Whats it like to be an AA/RAC Patrol man?

Nigel mumbled:

And when you're not doing that you're in the pouring rain on a freezing night with a howling gale on the hard shoulder of a motorway with trucks passing within feet of your arse!

You must be kidding. With the average person now calling the AA/RAC instead of changing a tyre themselves they're probably rushed off their feet.

Chewie mumbled:

You never had a flat battery then? ;-)

Changing a tyre by the side of the road with no special tools is really quite difficult. Pretty easy to change a *wheel* though.

In article , Conor writes

If you're changing an offside wheel on the hard shoulder of a motorway, that's exactly what you're supposed to do and exactly what I'd do. Otherwise, there's an unacceptable risk that some sleep deprived trucker will nod off at the crucial moment and turn you into dog food.

The AA/RAC man has lots of flashing lights to attract attention. He also strategically parks his vehicle so that (in theory) it will deflect a straying artic, and hopefully bounce harmlessly up or down the embankment itself. It's still not an ideal situation, but it's safer than attempting change the wheel without any protection.

"Makhno" mumbled:

And I'm damned if I'm changing an offside wheel on a motorway....not without a sparkly light up van parked behind me I'm not!

In article , Jeremy writes

You could say that it is safe to change a wheel on the hard shoulder of a motorway but try it on a local side road at night in the rain and see just how you feel when the local JOY RIDER comes racing down the street with the police in hot pursuit you might think that you should have waited for the AA/RAC man to arrive, but in your hospital bed you will have plenty of time to think about it.

Quite. It's the most lethal part of the whole road. I would either try to limp on to an exit or service station or just beyond a bridge where the hard shoulder stops and starts, or call a nice man.

There should be more engineered "pull-ins" to the side of the hard shoulder with a small stretch of armco, for emergencies. It would be sensible to have them next to the emergency phones for the 0.000001% who don't have a mobile ;-)

David Thornber mumbled:

Happened to a bloke I was working with one Christmas Eve.

If you actually use the emergency phone instead of your mobile, the Police will attend which is far more effective safety wise.

Shows how little you know about motorways...

Use the emergency phone and the Police will turn up to shield you.

In message , Conor writes

So you'd sooner I wasted The Police's time than the AA/RAC's? Surely they have better things to do. Shows how little you know about priorities.

ironically the police are more likely to whistle up a second vehicle ( forget warning triangles, the caravan with a problem on the A14 on sunday got two traffic equipped police vehicles ( and associated plods) and a line of cones to protect them ) ,it's only one payment for the RAC/ AA guys unles it's a long tow and a 'proper' tow truck / flatbed is authorised

In message , AstraVanMan writes

Maybe someone should tell them their job then. I've ended up on the hard shoulder a few times, and a patrol car has usually attended. Without fail, they have driven away once they have ascertained that I am okay and that a breakdown patrol has been called. They certainly don't hang around to 'protect' me.

I wouldn't call attending an accident a waste of time. But if other services (the RAC, AA and other breakdown services) can deal with trivial matters such as a flat tyre, then surely the police's over-stretched resources can be put to better use.

Can you imagine the extra police manpower that would be required if

*every* offside flat resulted in a patrol car having to park up behind the vehicle concerned while the owner carried out repairs? Do you think for one minute that the existing patrols would be able to cope?

I've changed plenty of wheels on the hard shoulder and not been killed yet. It's not pleasant, I'll admit, but a bit of common sense keeps you relatively safe.

Chewie mumbled:

Not everyone can deal with a flat battery on their own.

While you're crouched down lifting the new wheel on, your concentration is on lining up the studs etc - in those few seconds a vehicle could have lost control and its farewell world. Yes the risks are actually minimal but I don't think that common sense is going to protect you from a vehicle losing control.

You're risking the lives just by going on the motorway! Besides the passengers could go and jump over the barrier out of the way, i'd quite happily 'risk' my life if i would get us going again quickly. The only time i might consider phoning the AA if the conditions were a bit trecherous (heavy rain say).

And i would think that the chances of being hit are pretty minimal, i'd imagine the chances of being in an accident whilst moving are just as high (or low).

Yes, and they also provide that same free sevice you get at Kwik-Fit, the tyre wear, brakes and lights, etc. safety check!

Tony