Recovery during the age of covid
Discussion
Hi Folks,
Won't go into too much detail at this point, but just wondered what the legal position is relating to a breakdown recovery I had to have yesterday.
Ignoring the total lack of professionalism by the folk arranging the recovery of my vehicle and myself+son, something just didn't add up when (eventually) I got a recovery wagon to turn up, I was obliged to load my own vehicle onto the trailer (already being towed by a flatback transporter), but was then told that both of us had to sit in the vehicle on the trailer for the 45 mile journey to my chosen destination.
Surely this can't be legal?
Thanks for any advice
Won't go into too much detail at this point, but just wondered what the legal position is relating to a breakdown recovery I had to have yesterday.
Ignoring the total lack of professionalism by the folk arranging the recovery of my vehicle and myself+son, something just didn't add up when (eventually) I got a recovery wagon to turn up, I was obliged to load my own vehicle onto the trailer (already being towed by a flatback transporter), but was then told that both of us had to sit in the vehicle on the trailer for the 45 mile journey to my chosen destination.
Surely this can't be legal?
Thanks for any advice
I watched one of the police recovery programmes yesterday and if passengers were to accompany the vehicle they rode in the car and not in the recovery vehicles. These were alll police contracted operators . The rules must have changed due to the pandemic as when I did recovery work several years ago it was illegal for people to ride in recovered vehicles.
One of the biggest of the 2 main recovery organisation were car on trailer or flat bed with passengers in to a safe location only Max 10 miles.
Mostly motorway jobs as taxi won’t pick up from hard shoulder passengers out and in a taxi or friend or family pick up at the first safe location
Restricted to 40 mph.
The police weren’t happy but were willing to allow it as what other options are their.
Not sure if that is still the case
I know some still refuse to have folk in cab/van due to covid.
A large portion of recovery trucks were retrofitted with dividers between front and rear.
Passengers only in rear.
Mostly motorway jobs as taxi won’t pick up from hard shoulder passengers out and in a taxi or friend or family pick up at the first safe location
Restricted to 40 mph.
The police weren’t happy but were willing to allow it as what other options are their.
Not sure if that is still the case
I know some still refuse to have folk in cab/van due to covid.
A large portion of recovery trucks were retrofitted with dividers between front and rear.
Passengers only in rear.
Having to sit in the car and not in the cab is frankly ridiculous seeing as you can quite safely get a taxi and sit on an aircraft for 8 or 10 hours with other people. Even if the vehicles have dividers which IMHO make f
k all difference the same as those in restaurants etc, as long as everyone wears masks, what is the issue.
k all difference the same as those in restaurants etc, as long as everyone wears masks, what is the issue. 
I'm not sure about loading the car yourself but most recovery companies have made the occupants sit in their car on the back of the flatbed whilst they are recovered. (I've seen hundreds this year working for National Highways).
I'm not sure how that stands from a legal point of view, maybe someone with legal knowledge can answer that, but in normal times the companies will not take a vehicle with anyone inside.
I'm not sure how that stands from a legal point of view, maybe someone with legal knowledge can answer that, but in normal times the companies will not take a vehicle with anyone inside.
Being recovered in your car on a trailer is against the law (instant dismissal in my company). During the height of Covid, recoveries that included passengers were done on the back of a flat bed. This was highly frowned upon by everyone involved, but needs must.
That practice is only really used for getting a disabled passenger to safety.
These days, passengers go in the back of lorries with a Perspex screen fitted, masks on and the windows open. The vehicles are also decontaminated regularly.
That practice is only really used for getting a disabled passenger to safety.
These days, passengers go in the back of lorries with a Perspex screen fitted, masks on and the windows open. The vehicles are also decontaminated regularly.
If they are that worried I'd have thought it was safest and easiest for them to bring a lateral flow test for the customer - by the time the car is on the trailer the result is through. Can be optional and if you don't take it, you don't get in the cab.
Although then it works in reverse too and the driver needs to show his test before the shift...which we presume they do seeing how they worry?
Although then it works in reverse too and the driver needs to show his test before the shift...which we presume they do seeing how they worry?
I was told when I needed the TVR recovering last year, as the clutch fluid made a bid for freedom, I would have to make my own 200 mile journey home, which would be reimbursed up to £180 as the recovery driver would not be allowed to let me travel in the cab with him and I could not travel on the flat bed in the car.
He turned up, loaded up the car and laughed when I told him what the call centre said. That must have been the only vehicle that was noisier with a harsher ride for 4 hours, on the hottest day of the year, than making the journey in my TVR.
He turned up, loaded up the car and laughed when I told him what the call centre said. That must have been the only vehicle that was noisier with a harsher ride for 4 hours, on the hottest day of the year, than making the journey in my TVR.
Edited by shep1001 on Wednesday 5th January 23:50
The missus and I were fetched about 10 miles or so home by the RAC in mid-2021, the chap had a VW Transporter (as in the van, not a literal transporter!) and we sat three abreast in the front rubbing elbows with her knackered motor on an a frame behind the van.
We have full fat cover (courtesy of the bank and their gimmicks
) and the other option was Hampshire to South Wales on the back of a wagon. That's quite a trek, I'd like to think we'd have been allowed in the cab!
We have full fat cover (courtesy of the bank and their gimmicks
) and the other option was Hampshire to South Wales on the back of a wagon. That's quite a trek, I'd like to think we'd have been allowed in the cab!I was AA recovered, for only the second time in my motoring career, in November 2020 after my S-Max shat its clutch in the middle of Ipswich.
AA man wouldn't have me in the cab of his Transporter due to Auntie 'Rona, but fortunately I was only a short walk from my friend's house and she lent me a spare car! The S-Max was eventually recovered to Milton Keynes, via a change of shift in Cambridge, 2 days later.
AA man wouldn't have me in the cab of his Transporter due to Auntie 'Rona, but fortunately I was only a short walk from my friend's house and she lent me a spare car! The S-Max was eventually recovered to Milton Keynes, via a change of shift in Cambridge, 2 days later.
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