Body on the road, not moving, what do you do?

[Amanda P]

OK, so if stop to try to help, there's a risk that my car might be stolen (have you seen my old truck? - it's not likely).

Big deal. It's insured. I can always buy another.

If I don't stop, someone might die.

I'm going to stop.

 

[BentMikey]

There were 1200 carjackings in the UK in 2002 (latest unverified figures I can find). I have no idea whether the rate is up or down in the last six years. 100 carjackings a month and only the most serious make the news. The rest seem to go un-reported.

All of them involve some sort of distraction; from rear end shunt, to "broken down" car to simply being waved down. So unless you are telling me that you personally know the circumstances of a potential 1200 carjackings using someone lying in the road, while extremely risky in itself, is a distinct possibility and not without zero probability. Quite apart from the fact that tactics on the part of the criminals will evolve as people become aware of their methods.

Wow, that's a huge risk, I'm quaking in my boots. *sarcasm*

 

[BentMikey]

OK, so if stop to try to help, there's a risk that my car might be stolen (have you seen my old truck? - it's not likely).

Big deal. It's insured. I can always buy another.

If I don't stop, someone might die.

I'm going to stop.

+1

 

[Maizie]

OK, so if stop to try to help, there's a risk that my car might be stolen (have you seen my old truck? - it's not likely).

Big deal. It's insured. I can always buy another.

If I don't stop, someone might die.

I'm going to stop.

Y'know what, I'm gonna stop, take the key out of the ignition, grab my handbag, and lock the door behind me (with remote central locking so it's not like it delays things) as I go to see if the body on the road is alive, dead, or trying to nick my car

 

[Maz]

Y'know what, I'm gonna stop, take the key out of the ignition, grab my handbag, and lock the door behind me (with remote central locking so it's not like it delays things) as I go to see if the body on the road is alive, dead, or trying to nick my car

Exactly what I'd do (minus the handbag, of course).

 

[mickle]

Exactly what I'd do (minus the handbag, of course).

I'd leave mine in the car too Maz.

 

[Maz]

I'd leave mine in the car too Maz.

That's pretty good, mickle!

 

[PBancroft]

I have stopped my car and got out to help three people who were lying motionless at the side of the road. In each occasion there were other vehicles around, and nobody else stopped.

The first time, the guy was very, very drunk but was otherwise OK.

The second time I was berated by the woman who I had woken up (she was curled up on the pavement).

The third time was just a few weeks ago. Chap was lying face down on the pavement. It was raining. He also turned out to be OK but a little bonkers and I tried to encourage him to sleep in the shelter of a nearby bus-stop. The idea was that once I could identify readily where he was I would call the Police and make sure he hadn't walked out from somewhere he shouldn't have.

He refused to go to the bus shelter, because it was behind him. He always moves forwards apparently.

I can sort of understand why people don't stop in situations like that... but to see a person injured in an incident and not stop is appalling. It is heartwarming that people did stop, but those first few that didn't should be ashamed of themselves.

 

[fossyant]

Same here - splatted by a car on Thursday - no-one stopped, other than the woman that hit me......busy round-a-bout...great eh !!! Just a considerate taxi driver a few minutes later asking if everyone was OK.

 

[TWBNK]

In todays society the usual approach to seeing a body of any description in a road is to drive on and call an ambulance. If five cars passed you there is a probability that four of them phoned 999 to fulfil their good samaritan instincts, whilst themselves passing another two cyclists who would get hacked off at the idiots driving with a mobile phone glued to their ear.

With the state of the ambulance service and health service at the moment it would probably just be quicker to heal naturally than wait for an hour for an ambulance and then four hours for a&e treatment.I bet you were discharged bang on 3 hours and 58 minutes though.

Hope you are okay.

 

[Twenty Inch]

Hope you feel better soon.

 

[yello]

I once stopped to see if I could help a still body in a doorway... as I got closer, I could smell the piss and booze! He was breathing so I figured there wasn't a lot I could do.

I was off'ed on Old Street roundabout (a hit and run) many years ago. As I hauled myself up, blood running down my arm and cars driving around me (thankfully ), one of them actually hooted at me! As if I was there out of choice!! It beggars belief but most people don't want to get involved. I can understand that, I've been there myself.

 

[Twiggy]

However, what people here don't seem to be blinded to is the fact that you could have been a decoy for a carjacking/theft. As a driver you have a split second to assess a situation and make a quick decision about stopping and personal safety after stopping

2pm, bright, slightly chill, plenty of other traffic, open ground all around so nowhere to hide. It's a set of bloody traffic lights and a four way junction, people stop within two yards of where I landed regularly, day and night.

Hell I was right outside the entrance to a church!

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?ie=UTF8&ll=52.423676,-1.523012&spn=0.00036,0.00094&t=h&z=20

headed south west'ish(b4107), came to a halt next to the tree.

you seem rather reticent on that, gwan, give us all a laugh

It was wet, crossing points are marked out with metal plates rather than paint, front wheel hit one, rear wheel hit another, bike went sideways. I landed face first.

hard wearing, but not at all safe.

 

[Arch]

Surely if people are wary (and I think I'd probably not think about the possibility of a car jacking until afterwards, and then feel silly for not thinking of it), they could at least stop, and phone for help at the scene, while keeping an eye on the person.

Dreadful state of affairs. Hope you get well soon.

 

[Twiggy]

Doctors said it's broken, but also sprained, the break will heal without imobilising, and the other will heal better if used gently, as long as I don't try any lifting.

They took away the brace. Which was helping.



*grumble grumble grumble*