RE: Breakdown services - are they anti-motorist?
Tuesday 14th March 2006
Is your breakdown service on your side?According to the latest survey by the Association of British Drivers, some of the companies most relied upon by drivers may actually be campaigning against them. The UK's leading driver group has looked into the policies of the key breakdown organisations and discovered that many:
Breakdown services - are they anti-motorist?
ABD throws down gauntlet to big business
Is your breakdown service on your side?
- Promote nationwide road tolls, which will price many drivers off the country's roads
- Support satellite tracking of all vehicles, despite serious privacy issues
- Are calling for even tighter enforcement of unreasonable (and often
- discredited) speed limits
- Do not support road user training schemes, although the ABD and other safety organisations are convinced this is a key way to improve road safety
- Donate money to organisations working against the interests of the driver.
Because many breakdown companies are now part of much larger businesses, financial interests can become more important than representing their members' views.
ABD spokesman Nigel Humphries said: "Many drivers don't realise that by joining a breakdown organisation, they are effectively supporting the views of that organisation. Breakdown organisations have great influence and some of the leading ones are regularly consulted as 'the motorist's voice' by government and the media. Drivers need to check out the views of their chosen organisation to make sure they are not supporting something they don't agree with."
ABD chairman Brian Gregory said: "Breakdown organisations are often part of huge corporations, many of which may have vested interests in toeing the government line. Some may even have vested interests in promoting the technologies being rolled out nationwide. The ABD is not aware of any truly independent breakdown organisations.
"The ABD and Safe Speed, though not involved in vehicle recovery, are the only truly independent voices of the driver. We urge any members disagreeing with the policies of their breakdown organisation to make their views known to the company - if they receive no joy they should consider switching."
We'd guess that legal reasons inhibited the ABD from naming and shaming...
Discussion
t! 
gridgway said:
so where are the survey results then? If it's true, then without the survey to legitimise it, it's just propoganda (and self promoting propoganda at that)
Graham
That's my thought on it.
My second thought is that the ABD are confusing the RAC and the RAC Foundation (now completely separate entities).
If the ABD has evidence to back up such policies, why does it not list all recovery organisations, their parent companies, and the stance of these groups on the above items. Could be done in a simple table, and it would enable the concerned motorist to make an educated choice.
Come on ABD - if you're going to 'represent us', and 'support us', give us the tools and information to make the right decisions. Otherwise it's just more piss and wind...
Very Interesting. Now how about this the RAC is owned by an Insurance company that thinks their quotes will make you happy. Now this same company had a pilot a short time ago to promote insurance on a pay as you drive basis. To work out how much you pay your vehicle would be tracked and the data given to the insurance company. The data is then owned by the company and could be sold on to other interested parties to provide all sort of info on journey types, age groups, gender etc etc. One of the interested parties could well be the government.
So you are tracked via ANPR CCTV and your own insurance company and big brother can look at the data to see what roads to bung pricing on and what times to charge the most to scam tax sorry recover revenue from. Additionally your records may well show what areas you were driving dangerously through by wavering over an arbirary speed limit and through the post comes another request for tax from the government and an oportunity for your insurance company to increase their profits by uping your premium.
Don't say their is nothing to worry about if you have done nothing wrong. How many drivers can hand on heart say they have never driven at more than 35 in a 30 when it has been safe to do so. Or come from a 40 into a 30 and rather than slam on the anchors have just coasted down to the lower limit because it has posed no threat to safety.
Welcom to George Orwells 1984. Rant over
So you are tracked via ANPR CCTV and your own insurance company and big brother can look at the data to see what roads to bung pricing on and what times to charge the most to scam tax sorry recover revenue from. Additionally your records may well show what areas you were driving dangerously through by wavering over an arbirary speed limit and through the post comes another request for tax from the government and an oportunity for your insurance company to increase their profits by uping your premium.
Don't say their is nothing to worry about if you have done nothing wrong. How many drivers can hand on heart say they have never driven at more than 35 in a 30 when it has been safe to do so. Or come from a 40 into a 30 and rather than slam on the anchors have just coasted down to the lower limit because it has posed no threat to safety.
Welcom to George Orwells 1984. Rant over
As far as I can tell, GEM www.motoringassist.com are not only the cheapest and most reliable but are also very pro motoring.
Mark Benson said:
Just had a look at the Brake website, seems Green Flag (who I have just joined) sponsor them.
Stern letter off to them then......
I've been banging on for ages about this.
Stern letter..? Demand your money back.
BRAKE was founded by Mary Williams, with the best of intentions, when a member of her family died on the road. Her mission was to give emotional support to future victims.
Then something happened and her little band of workers took it upon themselves to become overnight experts in road safety. Unfortunately, they understand nothing about driver and vehicle behaviour. Their ideal solution is to limit everyone to 10mph and get as many of us on public transport and bicycles as possible.
Mike Dickin exposed them on TalkSport when their spokesman was extolling the virtues of speed cameras. Mike skilfully made him admit he cycles or walks everywhere.
BRAKE's credibility was finally shattered when Mary Williams got wind of a silly session on here when someone shouted words to the effect of hang her, hang her. All merry jesting, but she put out a national press release that we were issuing death threats against her.
Yet the government awarded her a CBE or MBE or something and still absorbs her incompetent, hysterical drivel as good advice....
shagga said:
Very Interesting. Now how about this the RAC is owned by an Insurance company that thinks their quotes will make you happy. Now this same company had a pilot a short time ago to promote insurance on a pay as you drive basis. To work out how much you pay your vehicle would be tracked and the data given to the insurance company. The data is then owned by the company and could be sold on to other interested parties to provide all sort of info on journey types, age groups, gender etc etc. One of the interested parties could well be the government.
So you are tracked via ANPR CCTV and your own insurance company and big brother can look at the data to see what roads to bung pricing on and what times to charge the most to scam tax sorry recover revenue from. Additionally your records may well show what areas you were driving dangerously through by wavering over an arbirary speed limit and through the post comes another request for tax from the government and an oportunity for your insurance company to increase their profits by uping your premium.
Don't say their is nothing to worry about if you have done nothing wrong. How many drivers can hand on heart say they have never driven at more than 35 in a 30 when it has been safe to do so. Or come from a 40 into a 30 and rather than slam on the anchors have just coasted down to the lower limit because it has posed no threat to safety.
Welcom to George Orwells 1984. Rant over
I have to agree Shagga 1984 is now fact and not George Orwells fiction.
Such a shame this country we used to called Great Britain can no longer be called Great.
>> Edited by bunglist on Tuesday 14th March 17:12
Muncher said:
As far as I can tell, GEM www.motoringassist.com are not only the cheapest and most reliable but are also very pro motoring.
Must have changed their tune then. When I was with them, quite a while ago now, the chairman seemed to think all speed limits were Holy Writ. Couldn't take any more and went elsewhere.
This was before the scammers really got going.
dogwatch said:
As far as I can tell, GEM www.motoringassist.com are not only the cheapest and most reliable but are also very pro motoring.
Must have changed their tune then. When I was with them, quite a while ago now, the chairman seemed to think all speed limits were Holy Writ. Couldn't take any more and went elsewhere.
This was before the scammers really got going.
It would appear to be still the case now: www.roadsafety.org.uk/information/publish/article_264.shtml
This is something I have been noticing for a while now these organisations are often stabbing road users in the back. The AA for instance used to be a voice for car drivers against mobility hating politicians, there patrolman setting up camp near police speedtraps and warning motorists of the potential wallet emptying ahead for instance. Now obviously this couldnt happen nowadays but just shows how they have completely changed there principals.
They're all breakdown organisations now, who offer (read: sell) other motoring-related services. Any claim to 'represent' the motorist had better be taken with a large pinch of salt - they're not going to say anything against the corporate line, regardless of what their 'customers' (not members really anymore) say/want.
havoc said:
so where are the survey results then? If it's true, then without the survey to legitimise it, it's just propoganda (and self promoting propoganda at that)
Graham
That's my thought on it.
My second thought is that the ABD are confusing the RAC and the RAC Foundation (now completely separate entities).
If the ABD has evidence to back up such policies, why does it not list all recovery organisations, their parent companies, and the stance of these groups on the above items. Could be done in a simple table, and it would enable the concerned motorist to make an educated choice.
Come on ABD - if you're going to 'represent us', and 'support us', give us the tools and information to make the right decisions. Otherwise it's just more piss and wind...
All you have to do is visit their websites
havoc said:
so where are the survey results then? If it's true, then without the survey to legitimise it, it's just propoganda (and self promoting propoganda at that)
Graham
That's my thought on it.
My second thought is that the ABD are confusing the RAC and the RAC Foundation (now completely separate entities).
If the ABD has evidence to back up such policies, why does it not list all recovery organisations, their parent companies, and the stance of these groups on the above items. Could be done in a simple table, and it would enable the concerned motorist to make an educated choice.
Come on ABD - if you're going to 'represent us', and 'support us', give us the tools and information to make the right decisions. Otherwise it's just more piss and wind...
Are you two working for the opposition or are you just too dim to see whats going on here? FFS we are at war, freedom of speech, freedom to roam are under threat here. The little man in the form of the ABD and Safespeed are putting everything at risk to bring the criminal government to book on a whole raft of issues. The government are ably supported by corporate filth. If the little guy gets specific then they lose their shirt. Wake up FFS.
none, chill!
Read some of my other posts - I've a lot of time for what Paul has been saying, think he's probably one of the best voices the motorist has got at the moment. And he's well-armed with statistics and arguments.
However, I have found the ABD to be too confrontational and sensationalist - our version of Brake!, if you will. And I don't think that sort of approach helps our cause at all - if the government can discredit one pro-motoring organisation, all they need to do is include others in the same sentence and the mud will stick!!!
Oh - If the ABD DO have facts, then there is NOTHING the courts or the government can do against them. It's only unsubstantiatable statements that risk the libel laws!
We, the concerned motorists, need to stay level headed and logical in all of this - the minute we go off on one and it gets publicised, WE lose credibility, and our argument gets hurt along with it. That's what I'm trying to say!
Read some of my other posts - I've a lot of time for what Paul has been saying, think he's probably one of the best voices the motorist has got at the moment. And he's well-armed with statistics and arguments.
However, I have found the ABD to be too confrontational and sensationalist - our version of Brake!, if you will. And I don't think that sort of approach helps our cause at all - if the government can discredit one pro-motoring organisation, all they need to do is include others in the same sentence and the mud will stick!!!
Oh - If the ABD DO have facts, then there is NOTHING the courts or the government can do against them. It's only unsubstantiatable statements that risk the libel laws!
We, the concerned motorists, need to stay level headed and logical in all of this - the minute we go off on one and it gets publicised, WE lose credibility, and our argument gets hurt along with it. That's what I'm trying to say!
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