4x4 Response - Landrovers & Others

Steve_B · 09 January 2014, 14:28

Just a quick heads up, I have just joined the Hampshire & Berkshire 4x4 Response Group.
It is for owners of 4x4's who might be able to assist the emergency services or local Councils in the event of bad weather.
A bit like the RNLI, they have an SMS system for requesting volunteers to attend, nothing is compulsary and there is a fuel allowance for any call outs you may attend.
Whilst the call outs are few, it seems like a good way to put something back in to the community and using the vehicles capabilities.
Steve

4x4 Response UK

steco1958 · 09 January 2014, 14:50

Good idea !!

boristhebold · 09 January 2014, 16:07

Why the hampshire and berkshire one and not the one covering Dorset ? Are there differences ?

treerat · 09 January 2014, 17:38

They do get out and have fun down here when the snow hits. Usually ferrying ambulance people or doctors around.

biffer · 09 January 2014, 18:01

I looked at this and registered. I'm willing to do my bit but they want you to pay to join as well. Takes the piss a bit

mick · 09 January 2014, 18:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by biffer

I looked at this and registered. I'm willing to do my bit but they want you to pay to join as well. Takes the piss a bit

So did I and then there's the old chestnut of insurance and liability so I walked away.

Festinghouse · 09 January 2014, 18:37

ive heard of this before, and yes its a great idea, but just read about driver competence and requirements etc and it seems an awful lot of proving yourself and your vehicle just to provide a voluntary service. i dont think i need OS maps and a compass whilst driving in my local area etc! i do agree however that just because you have a 4x4 doesnt mean you know how to drive it, in fact i would say that the majority of people driving them on ice or snow would make the fatal mistake of jumping on the clutch thereby having no-wheel drive - so i can see why they would want to check things like that.

biffer · 09 January 2014, 19:07

Pretty stupid organisation really. I've got a tractor. Digger and a 4x4 here and I know how to use them but to pay for the privilege of volunteering. No way. I've emailed them and ask them to take me off there list and told them the reason

mick · 09 January 2014, 19:13

I know a few lads with JCBs and the likes and last winter they offered there services to the local councils for snow clearing and where turned down for H&S reasons the muppets

Lee argyle · 09 January 2014, 19:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by mick

So did I and then there's the old chestnut of insurance and liability so I walked away.

+1
I was approached by Hampshire police and asked if I could help with the LRF ( local resilience forum - very similar to the 4x4 response network ), however I declined there offer after I found out about the insurance, they expected me to put my vehicle/s into a high risk situation (floods / ice /snow etc etc) and use my own insurance. I'm a qualified off-road instructor but that means nothing when a third-party writes off your 30k discovery and the blame game starts.............no thanks

Steve_B · 09 January 2014, 19:20

Joined the Hampshire group as I live right on the border and I'm in Hampshire slightly more than Dorset.
The Wessex group covers Dorset, Somerset and Avon.
The £20 join fee covers the insurance and is hardly a life changing amount, most of us have donated many times this to the Macmillan project.
Whilst some groups can be a bit anal about what you require, the Hampshire group are much more laid back. A quick chat, a look at the vehicle, job done.
Its not for everyone and I'm not forcing down anyones throat

Steve

biffer · 09 January 2014, 19:51

It might be better if they explained that the fee covers the insurance. It's a good idea Steve and I can see why you offered your services.

Nasher · 09 January 2014, 22:17

I registered this time last year, and had a message that they'd be in touch to arrange for the various admin stuff etc to be done.

Never heard another word from them and didn't put any effort into chasing them.

Suppose I should as it sounded fun at the time.

Quite happy to fill the D3 up with nurses and run them around the countryside

Nasher

Pikey Dave · 10 January 2014, 07:45

When we had the bad snow a couple of years back, we ended up doing "mercy runs" for neighbours & family, supermarket, doctors, chemist etc. We just did it off our own bat, no council jobsworth in Hi-Viz with a clipboard involved, just us helping out the locals.

biffer · 10 January 2014, 07:55

Yep. Was thinking about this last night and you're right. Everybody local to me knows where to come. The lane out front is private so I clean it with the tractor and paddock scraper. The guys up and done the river know where to come for a tow. All the neighbours help each other so I do my bit and I don't need a tee shirt and hi viz vest

Festinghouse · 10 January 2014, 12:22

same here, got mud tyres, straps and winch so spend a lot of time when its snowing helping others out. its always nice to help (those who appreciate it anyway) but its also a very good excuse to play at the same time!

Steve_B · 10 January 2014, 13:28

Pleased to see so many help others out, when they come across them and would have expected nothing else from the members on here.
What the Response teams are asked to help with are the invisible tasks, the meals on wheels deliveries, the oxygen tank to the OAP at home and the day care nurse to the patient out in the sticks. In the big Counties, Cities and towns, you wont see or know about these.
Like I say, each to their own
Steve
PS There are NO council jobsworth in Hi-Viz with a clipboard involved with the groups, the members are asked to have one in the vehicle to wear when appropriate and to be honest, anyone out to play in these conditions, would probably have one in the car anyway

SteveHall · 10 January 2014, 13:58

I looked at joining this for the NW last winter, but couldn't find anything good about them, so decided to give it a miss.

Saying that last winter I went out in the Disco when we had some really bad snow, only to find the first major road by us was still open yet the snow was a few feet deep and everyone was stuck, so spent the night on there with a shovel digging, pushing and helping them get home until it got to the point that the weather started to turn that bad and I had a few older people stuck so the decision was made that I would take them all home, so filled the car up with 5 of the people that were stuck and made tracks to drop them all off at home.

My only gripe was with the bad weather and keeping the Disco running for lights and heating for the woman in her 70's that was stuck, cold and afraid then dropping everyone off I used about 1/2 of my tank of diesel, but that was my good deed for the day!