Scrapping a car

The term ' common sense ' has been withdrawn from magistrates courts as it may be seen an culturallly exclusive ! You may think I jest, but no.

E-mail address, hopefully self-explanatory Andy Pandy

You don't know how close to the truth you are. The problem we are having at the moment is that cars are evolving etremly quickly safety wise; and for us it is a nightmare. What stops you getting hurt, can stop you getting out. We have not had any cars with airbags to cut up (Extremly dangerous for us), side impact, the new really toughened glass, central locking systems that lock when your driving them and various other things. We are still basing our training (When we get the opportunity) on cars that are 10 + years old and only having a small amout of update training. Unfortunatly 99% of training is done on the fireground. Sad but true.

The message from "Paul" contains these words:

Must admit - I don't fancy one of them.

No substitute for practice I know but could not manufactures supply data on how best to cut open each model and any particular hazards that may be present. Couldn't cover every eventuality I know (but then nor does training) but better than nothing as H&S seem to desire. What training does give you is the confidence to use your initiative when you come across something you haven't trained for.

I don't know what equipment is carried but I recall seeing a while back a unit fitted with a screen which had maps, hydrant locations, floor plans, etc. transmitted to it. Could have been just a trial thing though. If it is in common usage maybe it could be used to receive vehicle data also.

Till I saw a torched car here recently I wasn't aware how dangerous the tyres were to you guys in that situation. Scared the hell out of me when they went and I was a couple of hundred yards away. Lord knows what other hazards you must be exposed to. I know from aircraft that certain elements, while safe normally, can become lethal after exposure to fire.

Yes. Very sad and unacceptable. Thankfully you continue to do it though.

Regards,

Vin

I know what you mean. Quite frankly the idea of being locked in terrifies me. Probably not quite as terrifying though when someone, following a smash, realize that they have it in conjunction with toughened glass. All their worries of 'car security' melt away after a while of being trapped. It's becoming more and more common in RTA's now.

What training does

Totally agree, also allows for shared experiences

It's common in all our appliances now. It contains various info such as hydrants, distances, GPS, Call out notification, interactive maps, Operating procedures, chemical data, distance monitoring and loads more. Extremly advanced bit of kit and well worth the 60 grand (seriously). Unfortunatly, all RTA's are unique and whilst you have standard procedures (such as dashboard rolls - (Rolling the dashboard of people)) - A lot of the time it is controlled trial and error.

You mean MMMF's?. They are also lethal in their raw form - i.e when using cutting gear, but like you say in fire.......

... and then you end up in the river and your electric windows won't open either... :-)

Vin

This always seems odd as the original specs include being able to hydraulic scissor the steering column without them going off, has anybody actually got round to seeing what actually happens in practise?

You trying to stop us from sleeping or something? ;)

Not what I was particularly thinking of when I wrote the original message. Many of those I know of I doubt you would find in a car. One you likely would is Hydrofluoric acid generated by some synthetic rubber compounds when heated by fire. Very nasty stuff. Remains hazardous for ages and requires specialised treatment on exposure if you don't want to wave bye-bye to the affected parts of your body.

Vin (Now totally mad so the world seems normal)

Better makes use the collision sensor that cuts off the fuel to also unlock the doors on impact.

The message from "Vin" contains these words:

Certainly on older systems electric windows continue to operate quite happily for a considerable time after immersion. Later ones with masses of electronics I'd not be so sure about.

The message from "Vin" contains these words:

Trouble is finding a hospital that knows where it keeps its calcium glugonate.

The message from "Dave Plowman (News)" contains these words:

Hmmm, even more to go wrong!

Not really, it's an inertia switch for the fuel pump which is a simple mechanical unit. The airbag computer on my Rover triggered the bags, tensioners, locks, interior light and hazard warnings when I nosed it into a tree.

Although current advise is open the door & get out immediately, the pressure doesn't equalise until after the cars settled.

The message from "Tim S Kemp" contains these words:

I know that - but connecting even more circuits together forms an impenetrable web when it comes to tracing faults.

It was somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the drugs began to take hold. I remember "Tim S Kemp" saying something like:

Now that's what I call service!

The message from "Tim S Kemp" contains these words:

I think that adequately makes my point!