As I concluded yesterday it is inappropriate to detail how my car came to hit from behind by a bus having attended the funeral of friend of a relative on the Isle of Wight. At the time I was shocked and could only think of getting the damaged vehicle and myself to the hotel where I was staying and where I knew there would be close relatives. Not having been in such a situation before it was only in retrospect that I felt I should have done this and that instead of what I did and what I did not.
This is the classic reaction of the victim, to take upon themselves responsibility or something which is the fault of others. I was thinking about this tonight as the regional news gave information fo the latest development in the process of the class action by former residents of a catholic run establishment in the Middlesbrough diosescee which has rules that the church is liable for damages and legal costs estimated to amount to £8. It is not money which teh claimants are after but a sense of justice and that what happened to them is recognised by the community in general, and that the church says sorry. The chief culprit has been sentenced to 40 years, but for the victims, while some have recovered, for many the hurt will last.
Returning to the hotel I was able to park in the forecourt, and went to my room for a changing of clothing and to gather my thoughts. My first reaction was to assume that the AA would be responsible for getting the vehicle to a garage and myself a hire car as had happened on two previous occasions when my previous the vehicle had broken down, but I decided that my first step was to contact the insurers, a company where I was new account, the change being recommended by my insurance brokers.
I only had the insurance certificate on me without a claim line telephone number which the hotel looked up on the Internet dialled on a mobile phone. I was advised that I was next in the queue and had to wait ten to fifteen minuets before someone asked if I minded waiting further as although I was first in the queue it would be a little longer. I continued to hold and eventually the same individual came back and I was able to tell him the issues about getting myself and the car home and the AA. He was sceptical about the AA assisting and was correct as when I contacted the AA they explained that they only dealt with breakdowns and it was the responsibility of the insurers regarding both the vehicle and myself. I therefore returned to the Insurance call line and this time did not have to wait long before I was put through to a call handler who went through a check list, and took the circumstances of the accident and then discussed the options immediately available. I cannot now remember if I then spoke to teh individual who I had been in contact while waiting for a claims handler to be available or if I was telephoned back. The outcome was a plan about which I was uneasy from the outset in that I was asked to drive the vehicle the following day as arranged onto the ferry and telephone the insurers who within an hour would arrange for my vehicle and me to be recovered back to my home. The car would be collected on Monday and taken to an approved repairers and I was given their particulars and I would be issued with a courtesy car. My concern was having to telephone for the transport to be arranged not helped when it was suggested that I should have a cup of coffee and perhaps food as the journey would take a long time.
I therefore spent the rest of the evening with a relative and their friends going to bed around 10pm and going over what had happened for sometime. Two things occurred to me, the first was whether the police should have been called and the second whether the vehicle was sufficiently roadworthy to be driven across the island. The insurers had been anxious that I should get the vehicle off the Island, in order to avoid the cost of having to do so themselves. The concern the previous evening was driving the vehicle in darkness without one rear light but overnight I also realised that that there was no indicator turning light or stop light and the last think I wanted to happen was to be stopped by the island police or be involved in a second accident. It was about 6am when I went quietly downstairs to the guest lounge and dining area and telephone the insurers again with my concerns. The first response was to encourage me to keep to the original plan, even when I asked about getting the roadworthiness assessed on the island and again the first response was that should seek advice from the hotel about a local garage.
I also mentioned further concerns that had occurred overnight. The first was that the police had not been notified and should I do so and I was advised that as no one was injured this was not necessary. I was also concerned about the circumstances of the accident and asked for additional information to be noted and it was during this process that the handler advised that there were two places on island available for the assessment of roadworthiness to be made with the nearest a couple of miles away at Shanklin. I was advised to take the vehicle there and that it would be OK to drive in the circumstances. I was able to contact the garage around 8.30 and explained the situation once more and it was agreed that I would my breakfast first before taking the vehicle. Just as I was ready to leave I was contacted my the nominated repair agents in Gateshead who confirmed that they would collect the vehicle on Monday and provide a courtesy car. I as then contact by a firm instructed by the insurers to deal with allocation of a car in no fault claims. I provided information about the accident and what had been arranged before and in the morning. In both instances it was agreed that further action would await the assessment of the Body Care Centre on the island.
As a consequence of the telephone calls I did not reach the Body Care garage until 11 and by 12 the duty manager showed me what had been done which was for a fully functioning light indicator unit taped into the space where the previous had been. It was evident there was no problem driving across the island to the ferry so I asked about continuing home and was assured there should be no difficult about this. I was thrilled at this development. I was able to drive without anxiety tot he ferry where although I arrive an hour before departure there was already three lanes of vehicles waiting. I was also able to relax on the ferry before arriving as scheduled around 2.30 at Southampton.
The weather conditions were good for driving but I made a mistake travelling in the wrong direction on reaching the M27 which meant having to continuing to the next exit and returning and feeling hungry. Although I had had an excellent breakfast I decided to call in at the same area motorway service station as I had on the outward journey and although I object to the excessive pricing of the food provision I opted for some fish and chops with peas and which is cooked fresh within ten minutes for a nor unreasonable price of £6 in the circumstances. Had there been two of us the price per head would have been reduced to £5. The service area is a quiet one as service areas go and mid afternoon there was no one ordering or eating a cooked meal. There was a young assistant who asked how I was while I looked to see what meal I wanted and standing to one side was another gentleman. Having passed the order to the cook he asked about a drink and I said I would eat the meal first and then decide so I went to a table asking about payment understanding that the account would be settled when I decided about a drink. The meal was brought and was excellent and I I decided I would like a cup of tea. There was no one present at the food counter and after a few minutes I was able to attract the attention of the cook through a glass door and the other man, who looked a service manager as he was in civilian clothes and not service area uniform provided the tea for which I was charged and I had to remind that I had not paid for the fish and chips. I know most people would have not bothered and the thought crossed my mind that it was being chalked up to the management after I briefly explained about being lucky to be there my vehicle having been hit from behind by a bus and the vehicle being made roadworthy to make the journey home
I would like to be able that the journey to the Travel Lodge at Donnington service area was otherwise uneventful. I was aware, or so I thought that having gone through Oxford and joined the M40 it was only a short distance before turning off the motorway and joining the link road which passes near the Silverstone Grand Prix track to the M1. However I was thrown when on seeing the exist it was not also marked M1 and given that I was in a steady flow of traffic I decided to continue to the next turn away and cross back if this was not the right junction. The motorway continued for close on half an hour and 30 miles before the next junction at Banbury. I did nto think it would be easy to get to the M1 from here and considered continuing to the midland where I knew the M40 joined the motorway link around Birmingham, but where it should be possible to cut across to the Mr earlier in the area of Warwick and Coventry. I decided to exist and find a service area or stopping place and all I found was large dark roundabout and continuing towards Banbury, not one but two roundabouts with no stopping or service areas. I decided to return to the M40 and continue northwards and stopping at a service area to check directions. Unfortunately instead of taking the road down to the M40 North I took the dual carriageway road to Brackley and realising the mistake took the first slip road as a means of crossing over and back. Big mistake. This proved to be a one way and leading to what appeared to be a going nowhere country lane but when I attempted to reverse there were clearly marked no entry signs the way I had come. There were only a couple of buildings in dark except for one light. This was a residential school, presumably closed because of half term. I went along the drive and because there was a giant of a solid door I looked in at the window to show myself to what transpired to be the only individual still at the establishment.
Hey came to the door and I explained the problem and was invited into look at the map. I was advised to continue down the lane for what transpired to be a mile or two and then came out at T junction with the right turn taking me down to a roundabout and then down the other side of the dual carriageway back to the roundabout and M40, where I continued until reaching a service area where I stopped for a coffee and a look at the map. The journey to the M69 and M1 just before the Leicester Forest Service area continued to be difficult because of major roadwork developments and inadequate sign posting and it was with relief that I arrived at the Donnington service area. I thought I had noted the name of the establishment that had given the assistance and various searches over the past few days have been without success. I have written ti the Oxfordshire County Council to enquire if they can help as I would like to write and express my thanks,
The Donnington Travel Lodge is the most interesting I have experienced in my experience and I must have stayed at least thirty around the country on or nearer the M1 and AI roadways, in Yorkshire, Lancashire, Cheshire and the Midlands, the greater London area, the Home Counties and the South Coast, and South Wales. The Travel Lodge is a first floor building above the rectangular food and shopping service court but on two sides with a first level walkway i side the court so that there are rooms looking into the seating area and one side of the stores. I was near the lift with a view across to Marks and Spencer’s food and W H Smith’s newsagents. The room was as spacious as that three nights before and I arrived in time to watch the X factor, to undertake a little writing and to have an early night. Despite the location is was much quieter than with the motorway in earshot
The following morning I was awake early and found that as forecast the weather had become horrendous with fierce driving rain from high winds. I was soaked getting the luggage and myself into the car. It was said that the weather would pass over by the afternoon but teh idea of staying until midday when the departure was required and then sitting in the seating area until the weather cleared did not appeal but on reflection it would have been a better decision.
It is several years since there was any pleasure in driving on the motorway where any speed of under 70 miles an hour in any lane means that one has other vehicles clamouring for you to get out of their way or move faster. The journey from Donning home is almost 180 miles of motorway or dual carriageway and throughout there were notices warning of surface water, driving spray and high winds and recommending a top speed of 50 miles an hour. I was not alone in observing these requests but we were a significant minority as everyone else disregarded the warnings and hurtled along at 70 miles and more. There was one serious accident ahead which resulted in standings till on the motorway for 15 minutes or more before there was a one lane filter permitted by the police and some distance further there was another accident on the other side with a 10 miles or tailback in continuing nasty and dangerous conditions.
Around 11 I stopped at the newish Wetherby service area and paid an outrageous £4.50 for a Danish pastry and coffee but I despite the price I enjoyed it greatly. I had bought two pints of milk at the service area and on the way into Shields called in at Tesco for fruit and salad, I then bout two medium sized chickens and a carton of spiced spare ribs for £10, the latter I enjoyed as my Sunday meal mid afternoon. It was good to be home whatever was to happen next.
This I will leave to report on tomorrow.
This is the classic reaction of the victim, to take upon themselves responsibility or something which is the fault of others. I was thinking about this tonight as the regional news gave information fo the latest development in the process of the class action by former residents of a catholic run establishment in the Middlesbrough diosescee which has rules that the church is liable for damages and legal costs estimated to amount to £8. It is not money which teh claimants are after but a sense of justice and that what happened to them is recognised by the community in general, and that the church says sorry. The chief culprit has been sentenced to 40 years, but for the victims, while some have recovered, for many the hurt will last.
Returning to the hotel I was able to park in the forecourt, and went to my room for a changing of clothing and to gather my thoughts. My first reaction was to assume that the AA would be responsible for getting the vehicle to a garage and myself a hire car as had happened on two previous occasions when my previous the vehicle had broken down, but I decided that my first step was to contact the insurers, a company where I was new account, the change being recommended by my insurance brokers.
I only had the insurance certificate on me without a claim line telephone number which the hotel looked up on the Internet dialled on a mobile phone. I was advised that I was next in the queue and had to wait ten to fifteen minuets before someone asked if I minded waiting further as although I was first in the queue it would be a little longer. I continued to hold and eventually the same individual came back and I was able to tell him the issues about getting myself and the car home and the AA. He was sceptical about the AA assisting and was correct as when I contacted the AA they explained that they only dealt with breakdowns and it was the responsibility of the insurers regarding both the vehicle and myself. I therefore returned to the Insurance call line and this time did not have to wait long before I was put through to a call handler who went through a check list, and took the circumstances of the accident and then discussed the options immediately available. I cannot now remember if I then spoke to teh individual who I had been in contact while waiting for a claims handler to be available or if I was telephoned back. The outcome was a plan about which I was uneasy from the outset in that I was asked to drive the vehicle the following day as arranged onto the ferry and telephone the insurers who within an hour would arrange for my vehicle and me to be recovered back to my home. The car would be collected on Monday and taken to an approved repairers and I was given their particulars and I would be issued with a courtesy car. My concern was having to telephone for the transport to be arranged not helped when it was suggested that I should have a cup of coffee and perhaps food as the journey would take a long time.
I therefore spent the rest of the evening with a relative and their friends going to bed around 10pm and going over what had happened for sometime. Two things occurred to me, the first was whether the police should have been called and the second whether the vehicle was sufficiently roadworthy to be driven across the island. The insurers had been anxious that I should get the vehicle off the Island, in order to avoid the cost of having to do so themselves. The concern the previous evening was driving the vehicle in darkness without one rear light but overnight I also realised that that there was no indicator turning light or stop light and the last think I wanted to happen was to be stopped by the island police or be involved in a second accident. It was about 6am when I went quietly downstairs to the guest lounge and dining area and telephone the insurers again with my concerns. The first response was to encourage me to keep to the original plan, even when I asked about getting the roadworthiness assessed on the island and again the first response was that should seek advice from the hotel about a local garage.
I also mentioned further concerns that had occurred overnight. The first was that the police had not been notified and should I do so and I was advised that as no one was injured this was not necessary. I was also concerned about the circumstances of the accident and asked for additional information to be noted and it was during this process that the handler advised that there were two places on island available for the assessment of roadworthiness to be made with the nearest a couple of miles away at Shanklin. I was advised to take the vehicle there and that it would be OK to drive in the circumstances. I was able to contact the garage around 8.30 and explained the situation once more and it was agreed that I would my breakfast first before taking the vehicle. Just as I was ready to leave I was contacted my the nominated repair agents in Gateshead who confirmed that they would collect the vehicle on Monday and provide a courtesy car. I as then contact by a firm instructed by the insurers to deal with allocation of a car in no fault claims. I provided information about the accident and what had been arranged before and in the morning. In both instances it was agreed that further action would await the assessment of the Body Care Centre on the island.
As a consequence of the telephone calls I did not reach the Body Care garage until 11 and by 12 the duty manager showed me what had been done which was for a fully functioning light indicator unit taped into the space where the previous had been. It was evident there was no problem driving across the island to the ferry so I asked about continuing home and was assured there should be no difficult about this. I was thrilled at this development. I was able to drive without anxiety tot he ferry where although I arrive an hour before departure there was already three lanes of vehicles waiting. I was also able to relax on the ferry before arriving as scheduled around 2.30 at Southampton.
The weather conditions were good for driving but I made a mistake travelling in the wrong direction on reaching the M27 which meant having to continuing to the next exit and returning and feeling hungry. Although I had had an excellent breakfast I decided to call in at the same area motorway service station as I had on the outward journey and although I object to the excessive pricing of the food provision I opted for some fish and chops with peas and which is cooked fresh within ten minutes for a nor unreasonable price of £6 in the circumstances. Had there been two of us the price per head would have been reduced to £5. The service area is a quiet one as service areas go and mid afternoon there was no one ordering or eating a cooked meal. There was a young assistant who asked how I was while I looked to see what meal I wanted and standing to one side was another gentleman. Having passed the order to the cook he asked about a drink and I said I would eat the meal first and then decide so I went to a table asking about payment understanding that the account would be settled when I decided about a drink. The meal was brought and was excellent and I I decided I would like a cup of tea. There was no one present at the food counter and after a few minutes I was able to attract the attention of the cook through a glass door and the other man, who looked a service manager as he was in civilian clothes and not service area uniform provided the tea for which I was charged and I had to remind that I had not paid for the fish and chips. I know most people would have not bothered and the thought crossed my mind that it was being chalked up to the management after I briefly explained about being lucky to be there my vehicle having been hit from behind by a bus and the vehicle being made roadworthy to make the journey home
I would like to be able that the journey to the Travel Lodge at Donnington service area was otherwise uneventful. I was aware, or so I thought that having gone through Oxford and joined the M40 it was only a short distance before turning off the motorway and joining the link road which passes near the Silverstone Grand Prix track to the M1. However I was thrown when on seeing the exist it was not also marked M1 and given that I was in a steady flow of traffic I decided to continue to the next turn away and cross back if this was not the right junction. The motorway continued for close on half an hour and 30 miles before the next junction at Banbury. I did nto think it would be easy to get to the M1 from here and considered continuing to the midland where I knew the M40 joined the motorway link around Birmingham, but where it should be possible to cut across to the Mr earlier in the area of Warwick and Coventry. I decided to exist and find a service area or stopping place and all I found was large dark roundabout and continuing towards Banbury, not one but two roundabouts with no stopping or service areas. I decided to return to the M40 and continue northwards and stopping at a service area to check directions. Unfortunately instead of taking the road down to the M40 North I took the dual carriageway road to Brackley and realising the mistake took the first slip road as a means of crossing over and back. Big mistake. This proved to be a one way and leading to what appeared to be a going nowhere country lane but when I attempted to reverse there were clearly marked no entry signs the way I had come. There were only a couple of buildings in dark except for one light. This was a residential school, presumably closed because of half term. I went along the drive and because there was a giant of a solid door I looked in at the window to show myself to what transpired to be the only individual still at the establishment.
Hey came to the door and I explained the problem and was invited into look at the map. I was advised to continue down the lane for what transpired to be a mile or two and then came out at T junction with the right turn taking me down to a roundabout and then down the other side of the dual carriageway back to the roundabout and M40, where I continued until reaching a service area where I stopped for a coffee and a look at the map. The journey to the M69 and M1 just before the Leicester Forest Service area continued to be difficult because of major roadwork developments and inadequate sign posting and it was with relief that I arrived at the Donnington service area. I thought I had noted the name of the establishment that had given the assistance and various searches over the past few days have been without success. I have written ti the Oxfordshire County Council to enquire if they can help as I would like to write and express my thanks,
The Donnington Travel Lodge is the most interesting I have experienced in my experience and I must have stayed at least thirty around the country on or nearer the M1 and AI roadways, in Yorkshire, Lancashire, Cheshire and the Midlands, the greater London area, the Home Counties and the South Coast, and South Wales. The Travel Lodge is a first floor building above the rectangular food and shopping service court but on two sides with a first level walkway i side the court so that there are rooms looking into the seating area and one side of the stores. I was near the lift with a view across to Marks and Spencer’s food and W H Smith’s newsagents. The room was as spacious as that three nights before and I arrived in time to watch the X factor, to undertake a little writing and to have an early night. Despite the location is was much quieter than with the motorway in earshot
The following morning I was awake early and found that as forecast the weather had become horrendous with fierce driving rain from high winds. I was soaked getting the luggage and myself into the car. It was said that the weather would pass over by the afternoon but teh idea of staying until midday when the departure was required and then sitting in the seating area until the weather cleared did not appeal but on reflection it would have been a better decision.
It is several years since there was any pleasure in driving on the motorway where any speed of under 70 miles an hour in any lane means that one has other vehicles clamouring for you to get out of their way or move faster. The journey from Donning home is almost 180 miles of motorway or dual carriageway and throughout there were notices warning of surface water, driving spray and high winds and recommending a top speed of 50 miles an hour. I was not alone in observing these requests but we were a significant minority as everyone else disregarded the warnings and hurtled along at 70 miles and more. There was one serious accident ahead which resulted in standings till on the motorway for 15 minutes or more before there was a one lane filter permitted by the police and some distance further there was another accident on the other side with a 10 miles or tailback in continuing nasty and dangerous conditions.
Around 11 I stopped at the newish Wetherby service area and paid an outrageous £4.50 for a Danish pastry and coffee but I despite the price I enjoyed it greatly. I had bought two pints of milk at the service area and on the way into Shields called in at Tesco for fruit and salad, I then bout two medium sized chickens and a carton of spiced spare ribs for £10, the latter I enjoyed as my Sunday meal mid afternoon. It was good to be home whatever was to happen next.
This I will leave to report on tomorrow.
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