Road safety?

[norseman]

Not sure whether to post this here or in General Discussions.

Last Friday my car suffered sudden overheating whilst in the outside lane of a dual carriageway, quarter of a mile from a busy roundabout.
I managed to pull the vehicle just out of the traffic flow & onto some hatch markings close to the barrier, with hazard lights on.

Due to the recovery call centre operator's inability to understand a clear description of my location my other half & I waited over an hour to be recovered.
During this time no fewer than three marked police cars drove past us. Is it unreasonable for me to have expected at least one of them to pull up behind us to check as to whether we has been able to organise assistance or hadn't pulled over due to a medical emergency ?

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

During this time no fewer than three marked police cars drove past us. Is it unreasonable for me to have expected at least one of them to pull up behind us to check as to whether we has been able to organise assistance or hadn't pulled over due to a medical emergency ?

No, if they were just patrolling, if they were already on route to a call, then that would be very different.

'Three Little Words', might have been useful, to get assistance quicker to your location.

 

[norseman]

No, if they were just patrolling, if they were already on route to a call, then that would be very different.

'Three Little Words', might have been useful, to get assistance quicker to your location.

Perhaps the operator was in fact AI, that would explain the lack of understanding.
3 words only useable if you have a smart device ?

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Yes three words requires an app - and a smartphone, get one, might save your life. £50-60 + £10 SIM.

 

[jj4091]

No, if they were just patrolling, if they were already on route to a call, then that would be very different.

'Three Little Words', might have been useful, to get assistance quicker to your location.

is that an ap that is available for iphones. . Can't find it in the app store but there is one called what3words if that is the same thing

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Yes that's the one, you'll have to make an account nowadays I think.

 

[Avocet]

Quite a few breakdown companies now have smartphone "apps" of their own. I'd just poke the "report breakdown" button and it will give them my exact position. Modern cars (post about 2016) have "e-call", which is really designed for accidents and sends your location automatically if an airbag detonates, but some manufacturers use the same system to give you a wee button to press (maybe with a spanner icon on it) for their own breakdown services.

 

[norseman]

Quite a few breakdown companies now have smartphone "apps" of their own. I'd just poke the "report breakdown" button and it will give them my exact position. Modern cars (post about 2016) have "e-call", which is really designed for accidents and sends your location automatically if an airbag detonates, but some manufacturers use the same system to give you a wee button to press (maybe with a spanner icon on it) for their own breakdown services.

I dare say you're right, though none of that technology applies to my 27 year car or basic 'phone

Despite the age & mileage of the car it's well looked after & going by the recovery operator's experience less likely to need their services than most modern cars.

nb. turns out the overheating was due to a stuck thermostat, a simple mechanical component in a car of it's era.

 

[jj4091]

Quite a few breakdown companies now have smartphone "apps" of their own. I'd just poke the "report breakdown" button and it will give them my exact position. Modern cars (post about 2016) have "e-call", which is really designed for accidents and sends your location automatically if an airbag detonates, but some manufacturers use the same system to give you a wee button to press (maybe with a spanner icon on it) for their own breakdown services.

Thanks I have the AA app but never had to use it. I guess I will have to look at it a bit more closely.

 

[Mottie]

Thanks I have the AA app but never had to use it. I guess I will have to look at it a bit more closely.

Yeah, with the AA app, it will give them your exact location as well as allowing you to track the location of the patrol that is on its way to you. Very handy.