HELPING HAND
Page 5
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On page 6 of this week's Commercial Motor there is an appeal for help. The story concerns a woman who was attacked and raped after her car broke down on the M20. Sadly attacks on women whose vehicles have expired on the motorway have now become part and parcel of our lives. But how can we stop them happening?
How many of us during the course of the past six months driven past a stranded motorist, male or female, and thought stopping to give assistance — but then driven by? In the lives we all "enjoy" today whatever happened to concern We've often talked about the mythical "Knight of the HGV driver who bothered to stop and help a car driver it time for that spirit to return?
All of us are vulnerable on the hard shoulder, from would-be ers to sleepy drivers who plough into the back of a stationary on the side of the road because they somehow "just didn't Instead of sailing past thinking "what a place to break maybe we should all start asking the question: "Can I help Many trucks nowadays carry in-cab phones or CB and be used to summon help even if the driver can't stop. Failing can always use the emergency phones, and call for help.
Sadly, any HGV driver that does stop to help a female should not be surprised if she remains firmly locked in her the scares about would-be samaritans turning nasty who anyone for witholding their trust?
Given the likelihood of that situation, the best thing a is make sure his vehicle is in front of the car, and tell her: here until the police or breakdown truck arrives". And then stand by the truck in full view of the motorist for however for the emergency services to get there. It may intimidate least you know you are doing the right thing.
Once the police or the rescue services arrive then the go on his way knowing he has done something positive that can be one hell of a feeling.
Of course, stopping to be a Knight of the Road is likely to knock a hole in anybody's schedule. But what's more important — time or people?
We can't change the world over night. Neither can we expect all the bad apples to rot away to nothing. The only way we are ever going to make it is to help each other. Maybe that's something for every haulier and pro fessional driver to think about next time they see a breakdown. It could so easily be you or a loved one standing there.