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  1. #1
    Sla#s
    Guest
    Don't know if this has been discussed before...

    Is there or has it ever been proposed to have an emergency phone number one
    can call from a mobile when broken down on a motorway?

    I can think of a couple of problems that could arise but it would solve more
    that it causes.

    (I know the AA & RAC have them but I'm referring to general use.)

    Slatts




    See More: Emergency motorway number?




  2. #2
    BGN
    Guest

    Re: Emergency motorway number?

    On Tue, 9 Dec 2008 19:54:21 -0000, "Sla#s" <[email protected]>
    wrote:

    >Don't know if this has been discussed before...
    >
    >Is there or has it ever been proposed to have an emergency phone number one
    >can call from a mobile when broken down on a motorway?


    RAC or AA.
    --
    -- Nick ICQ: 9235201 EMAIL & MSN: [email protected]
    -- Triumph Tiger 955i -- http://www.bgn.me.uk -- Touch -
    -- LOTR#4 SKOGA#8 DS#7 BOTAFOT#159 BOTM#2 FBOTY#06 PM#11



  3. #3
    Bob Eager
    Guest

    Re: Emergency motorway number?

    On Tue, 9 Dec 2008 20:34:22 UTC, BGN <[email protected]> wrote:

    > On Tue, 9 Dec 2008 19:54:21 -0000, "Sla#s" <[email protected]>
    > wrote:
    >
    > >Don't know if this has been discussed before...
    > >
    > >Is there or has it ever been proposed to have an emergency phone number one
    > >can call from a mobile when broken down on a motorway?

    >
    > RAC or AA.


    Why did you trim this from your quote of the original?

    > (I know the AA & RAC have them but I'm referring to general use.)


    --
    Bob Eager
    Use the BIG mirror service in the UK:
    http://www.mirrorservice.org




  4. #4
    Whiskers
    Guest

    Re: Emergency motorway number?

    On 2008-12-09, Sla#s <[email protected]> wrote:
    > Don't know if this has been discussed before...
    >
    > Is there or has it ever been proposed to have an emergency phone number one
    > can call from a mobile when broken down on a motorway?
    >
    > I can think of a couple of problems that could arise but it would solve more
    > that it causes.
    >
    > (I know the AA & RAC have them but I'm referring to general use.)
    >
    > Slatts


    Motorway emergency telephones will automatically alert the police, and
    pinpoint your location. A mobile phone can't do either of those things,
    so it isn't a good option unless you are unable to leave your vehicle for
    some reason.

    The Highway Code
    <http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_069863>

    The AA
    <http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/news/motorway-breakdowns.html>

    The RAC
    <http://www.rac.co.uk/web/know-how/accidents-incidents/breakdown/motorway-driving-accidents-incidents.htm>

    If you can't use the fixed emergency telephone, then I think 999 is
    probably justified; any breakdown on a motorway is an emergency in my
    opinion.

    --
    -- ^^^^^^^^^^
    -- Whiskers
    -- ~~~~~~~~~~



  5. #5
    Graham.
    Guest

    Re: Emergency motorway number?


    "Whiskers" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    news:[email protected]...
    > On 2008-12-09, Sla#s <[email protected]> wrote:
    >> Don't know if this has been discussed before...
    >>
    >> Is there or has it ever been proposed to have an emergency phone number
    >> one
    >> can call from a mobile when broken down on a motorway?
    >>
    >> I can think of a couple of problems that could arise but it would solve
    >> more
    >> that it causes.
    >>
    >> (I know the AA & RAC have them but I'm referring to general use.)
    >>
    >> Slatts

    >
    > Motorway emergency telephones will automatically alert the police, and
    > pinpoint your location. A mobile phone can't do either of those things,
    > so it isn't a good option unless you are unable to leave your vehicle for
    > some reason.



    Marker posts are every 100m, SOS phones are less frequent.
    Either will pinpoint your position equally well.

    --
    Graham.

    %Profound_observation%





  6. #6
    RCC
    Guest

    Re: Emergency motorway number?

    In message <[email protected]>, Graham. <[email protected]>
    writes
    >
    >
    >
    >Marker posts are every 100m, SOS phones are less frequent.
    >Either will pinpoint your position equally well.
    >

    Indeed they are. Marker posts have meaningful numbers - 0 is the
    notional end of the particular Motorway, the top number is the distance
    from the end in km, the second number is the distance in 100m units. A
    post on the M1 with 55 and a 2 under it (for example) would be 55km and
    200m up the motorway from its zero point. So, even if you use your
    mobile to call, giving the nearest marker post number is very useful.

    Little known thing - on the back of each marker post is a small arrow
    pointing you to the nearest emergency phone (to save you walking 900m
    when 100m the other way would be best).

    Motorways existed long before mobile phones! This is just about as off
    topic as it can get so better stop now.
    --
    Richard C



  7. #7
    Bob Eager
    Guest

    Re: Emergency motorway number?

    On Tue, 9 Dec 2008 21:15:25 UTC, BGN <[email protected]> wrote:

    > On 9 Dec 2008 20:39:48 GMT, "Bob Eager" <[email protected]> wrote:
    >
    > >> >Don't know if this has been discussed before...
    > >> >
    > >> >Is there or has it ever been proposed to have an emergency phone number one
    > >> >can call from a mobile when broken down on a motorway?
    > >>
    > >> RAC or AA.

    > >
    > >Why did you trim this from your quote of the original?

    >
    > To cut the **** out.


    More likely to make yourself look good....your answer looks **** if it
    had been left in, that's why.
    --
    Bob Eager
    Use the BIG mirror service in the UK:
    http://www.mirrorservice.org




  8. #8
    Sla#s
    Guest

    Re: Emergency motorway number?

    RCC wrote:
    > In message <[email protected]>, Graham.
    > <[email protected]> writes
    >>
    >>
    >>
    >> Marker posts are every 100m, SOS phones are less frequent.
    >> Either will pinpoint your position equally well.
    >>

    > Indeed they are. Marker posts have meaningful numbers - 0 is the
    > notional end of the particular Motorway, the top number is the
    > distance from the end in km, the second number is the distance in
    > 100m units. A post on the M1 with 55 and a 2 under it (for example)
    > would be 55km and 200m up the motorway from its zero point. So, even
    > if you use your mobile to call, giving the nearest marker post number
    > is very useful.
    > Little known thing - on the back of each marker post is a small arrow
    > pointing you to the nearest emergency phone (to save you walking 900m
    > when 100m the other way would be best).
    >
    > Motorways existed long before mobile phones! This is just about as
    > off topic as it can get so better stop now.


    But my point was -
    1. There should be a single Motorway number.
    2. Is there a need for the fixed network still?
    (Or should I say - Could it be phased out in the ten years as it will be
    obsolete by then?)
    Everyone has a mobile nowadays almost without exception.
    A mobile could be pinpointed easily on a motorway.
    It would be safer - for example a mother with children would not have to
    walk them down the road with her to the nearest phone.

    Slatts




  9. #9
    Ian Vandahl
    Guest

    Re: Emergency motorway number?


    "Whiskers" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    news:[email protected]...
    > On 2008-12-09, Sla#s <[email protected]> wrote:
    >> Don't know if this has been discussed before...
    >>
    >> Is there or has it ever been proposed to have an emergency phone number
    >> one
    >> can call from a mobile when broken down on a motorway?
    >>
    >> I can think of a couple of problems that could arise but it would solve
    >> more
    >> that it causes.
    >>
    >> (I know the AA & RAC have them but I'm referring to general use.)
    >>
    >> Slatts

    >
    > Motorway emergency telephones will automatically alert the police, and
    > pinpoint your location. A mobile phone can't do either of those things,
    > so it isn't a good option unless you are unable to leave your vehicle for
    > some reason.
    >

    I doubt you have seen a mobile phone with satnav built in that can pinpoint
    a location?
    Lots of people that have satnav that will use bluetooth and give an exact
    location too.
    Do try to keep up with technology or join one of the breakdown services.
    Tesco &
    Green Flag are by far the cheapest and best compared to the rip-off RAC and
    AA
    who only send unqualified sales people out. Tesco/green Flag send a
    mechanic that
    is within so many miles of your location. I had the misfortune to call them
    twice in
    6 years and both times they arrived within 20mins.





  10. #10
    Mark BR
    Guest

    Re: Emergency motorway number?

    Sla#s wrote:
    > RCC wrote:
    >> In message <[email protected]>, Graham.
    >> <[email protected]> writes
    >>>


    SNIP

    > But my point was -
    > 1. There should be a single Motorway number.
    > 2. Is there a need for the fixed network still?
    > (Or should I say - Could it be phased out in the ten years as it will
    > be obsolete by then?)
    > Everyone has a mobile nowadays almost without exception.


    Not true, maybe all readers of this group have mobile phones but as a % of
    the general population is it nowhere near 100%.

    Also it seems to me many mobile phones suffer from lack of signal, flat
    batteries and other problems on an almost daily basis (now I'm exaggerating)

    --
    Mark BR





  11. #11
    Woody
    Guest

    Re: Emergency motorway number?

    >>>
    [snip]
    > I doubt you have seen a mobile phone with satnav built in that can
    > pinpoint a location?
    > Lots of people that have satnav that will use bluetooth and give an
    > exact location too.

    [snip]


    A couple of problems there.

    Satnavs give their location as lat/long in degrees - how many
    organisations concerned with the motorways would have the software to
    convert this to OS maps refs, or indeed would have the means to find out
    how to get there? You can't put lat/long into a satnav.

    Anyone who has ever been in an emergency services control room would be
    amazed at the mobile calls they get. Not only do people have no real
    idea where they are on the motorway, a significant proportion don't even
    know which motorway they are on! (I kid you not.)

    The mobile operators don't help. For a start they charge for
    triangulation information - it is not readily available - so there is a
    disincentive for a start. The operators know which site you are
    connected to and use this info to put the call through to the correct
    emergency control room - in theory. You could be in Essex but on a site
    in Kent, so how does that help? Emergency operators are also good at
    plain old getting it wrong. I've been in an emergency control room in
    far northern England when a call has been routed to them for someone
    with a problem in the West Midlands. It was only the fact that the
    person was in Bournville that someone had an idea where the caller was
    and was able to pass the mssage on.

    Finally, per a comment made by someone else, the arrow showing the
    direction of the nearest motorway phone is on the front edge of the 100m
    marker posts so that it can be seen from the carriageway - if you are
    still going but slowly it can make the difference on your decision when
    to stop.


    --
    Woody

    harrogate three at ntlworld dot com





  12. #12
    ChrisM
    Guest

    Re: Emergency motorway number?

    In message [email protected],
    Sla#s <[email protected]> Proclaimed from the tallest tower:

    > RCC wrote:
    >> In message <[email protected]>, Graham.
    >> <[email protected]> writes
    >>>
    >>>
    >>>
    >>> Marker posts are every 100m, SOS phones are less frequent.
    >>> Either will pinpoint your position equally well.
    >>>

    >> Indeed they are. Marker posts have meaningful numbers - 0 is the
    >> notional end of the particular Motorway, the top number is the
    >> distance from the end in km, the second number is the distance in
    >> 100m units. A post on the M1 with 55 and a 2 under it (for example)
    >> would be 55km and 200m up the motorway from its zero point. So, even
    >> if you use your mobile to call, giving the nearest marker post number
    >> is very useful.
    >> Little known thing - on the back of each marker post is a small arrow
    >> pointing you to the nearest emergency phone (to save you walking 900m
    >> when 100m the other way would be best).
    >>
    >> Motorways existed long before mobile phones! This is just about as
    >> off topic as it can get so better stop now.

    >
    > But my point was -
    > 1. There should be a single Motorway number.
    > 2. Is there a need for the fixed network still?
    > (Or should I say - Could it be phased out in the ten years as it will
    > be obsolete by then?)
    > Everyone has a mobile nowadays almost without exception.


    Very dangerous to remove the fixed network I think. Even if everyone had a
    mobile phone (which is certainly not totally true). flat batteries, lack of
    signal is certain areas, or even network problems mean that it would not be
    a good idea to rely 100% on mobile phones for this purpose.
    That said, I do think that a general (and easy to remember) breakdown
    emergency number IN ADDITION to the roadside phones is a good idea. It could
    even route calls to AA or RAC is required I suppose...

    --
    Regards,
    Chris.
    (Remove Elvis's shoes to email me)





  13. #13
    ChrisM
    Guest

    Re: Emergency motorway number?

    In message eyK%[email protected],
    Woody <[email protected]> Proclaimed from the tallest tower:

    > [snip]
    >> I doubt you have seen a mobile phone with satnav built in that can
    >> pinpoint a location?
    >> Lots of people that have satnav that will use bluetooth and give an
    >> exact location too.

    > [snip]
    >
    >
    > A couple of problems there.
    >
    > Satnavs give their location as lat/long in degrees - how many
    > organisations concerned with the motorways would have the software to
    > convert this to OS maps refs, or indeed would have the means to find
    > out how to get there? You can't put lat/long into a satnav.


    I'm sure that this is a fairly trivial problem... I have a JAVA based GPS
    program on my mobile phone that shows me my location as OS Ref, as well as
    Lat/Long etc. So if my phone can do it, I'm sure the 'organisations
    concerned with motorways' should be able to find a piece of software they
    can issue to their call centres to do the same thing...
    However, I don't disagree with the rest of your post... )



    --
    Regards,
    Chris.
    (Remove Elvis's shoes to email me)





  14. #14
    Jon B
    Guest

    Re: Emergency motorway number?

    Ian Vandahl <[email protected]> wrote:

    > "Whiskers" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    > news:[email protected]...
    > > On 2008-12-09, Sla#s <[email protected]> wrote:
    > >> Don't know if this has been discussed before...
    > >>
    > >> Is there or has it ever been proposed to have an emergency phone number
    > >> one
    > >> can call from a mobile when broken down on a motorway?
    > >>
    > >> I can think of a couple of problems that could arise but it would solve
    > >> more
    > >> that it causes.
    > >>
    > >> (I know the AA & RAC have them but I'm referring to general use.)
    > >>
    > >> Slatts

    > >
    > > Motorway emergency telephones will automatically alert the police, and
    > > pinpoint your location. A mobile phone can't do either of those things,
    > > so it isn't a good option unless you are unable to leave your vehicle for
    > > some reason.
    > >

    > I doubt you have seen a mobile phone with satnav built in that can pinpoint
    > a location?
    > Lots of people that have satnav that will use bluetooth and give an exact
    > location too.
    > Do try to keep up with technology or join one of the breakdown services.
    > Tesco &
    > Green Flag are by far the cheapest and best compared to the rip-off RAC and
    > AA
    > who only send unqualified sales people out. Tesco/green Flag send a
    > mechanic that
    > is within so many miles of your location. I had the misfortune to call them
    > twice in
    > 6 years and both times they arrived within 20mins.


    Actually Tesco/Greenflag just use a network of local garages, with a
    varying quality of mechanics/equipment to assist you. AA & RAC have
    their own network of vehicles, and quite often have deals with those
    same garages for peak and out of hours periods.

    Note Greenflag are very sly with their membership options too, have
    roadside assistance and you need towing, get prepared for a £80 bill.
    Got breakdown & recovery, but only local, get ready for a £200+ bill for
    a tow home, sat in the friends car thats not covered or the new one
    you've not registered yet, get ready to pay. I used to work for one of
    the local recovery companies, and everyday we were billing a Greenflag
    customer for a part of the work they'd not got membership cover for. OK
    we also did lots of recovery/fix jobs that didn't get charged, but also
    did enough that I am very careful that I've got enough cover for my
    needs.

    I might pay a bit more for my AA cover [1], but at least I know what I'm
    paying, and when I do need help I just phone up and say fix, or straight
    tow whatever I want, and it gets done, whatever car I'm sat in.

    [1] I'm not giving Greenflag all my details just to find out how much
    they are going to quote me.
    --
    Jon B
    Above email address IS valid.
    <http://www.bramley-computers.co.uk/> Apple Laptop Repairs.



  15. #15
    Whiskers
    Guest

    Re: Emergency motorway number?

    On 2008-12-10, Ian Vandahl <[email protected]> wrote:
    >
    > "Whiskers" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    > news:[email protected]...
    >> On 2008-12-09, Sla#s <[email protected]> wrote:
    >>> Don't know if this has been discussed before...
    >>>
    >>> Is there or has it ever been proposed to have an emergency phone number
    >>> one
    >>> can call from a mobile when broken down on a motorway?
    >>>
    >>> I can think of a couple of problems that could arise but it would solve
    >>> more
    >>> that it causes.
    >>>
    >>> (I know the AA & RAC have them but I'm referring to general use.)
    >>>
    >>> Slatts

    >>
    >> Motorway emergency telephones will automatically alert the police, and
    >> pinpoint your location. A mobile phone can't do either of those things,
    >> so it isn't a good option unless you are unable to leave your vehicle for
    >> some reason.
    >>

    > I doubt you have seen a mobile phone with satnav built in that can pinpoint
    > a location?


    I have read about mobile phones with GPS built-in or accessed from a
    separate device. But they don't automatically alert the police, and they
    don't give your location on the motorway in a manner that is meaningful to
    the emergency operator.

    > Lots of people that have satnav that will use bluetooth and give an exact
    > location too.
    > Do try to keep up with technology or join one of the breakdown services.
    > Tesco &
    > Green Flag are by far the cheapest and best compared to the rip-off RAC and
    > AA
    > who only send unqualified sales people out. Tesco/green Flag send a
    > mechanic that
    > is within so many miles of your location. I had the misfortune to call them
    > twice in
    > 6 years and both times they arrived within 20mins.


    I've belonged to the RAC for many years, and called them out about three
    times. I was pleased with the service I got each time. But that has
    nothing to do with the question - I referenced those AA and RAC pages and
    the on-line Highway Code for their instructions about what to do if you
    breakdown on a motorway.

    The fixed emergency telephone system is the best option unless for some
    reason you are unable to park your vehicle on the hard shoulder and get to
    the nearest phone - in which case, if you happen to have a working mobile
    phone with you, by all means use it to call 999. As those pages point
    out, you can use the numbers on the nearest marker-post to tell the
    emergency services where you are on the motorway - provided you know which
    motorway you're on and which way you're travelling, which might be beyond
    some people.

    --
    -- ^^^^^^^^^^
    -- Whiskers
    -- ~~~~~~~~~~



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