what would happen if only driver couldn't drive

[coopsbridgecottage.plus.com]

I don't drive & worry how we would get home if my husband were to be taken ill or injured or even worst! , I have dog so there would be no chance of me flying & having the car & van transported. As we get older this is something that keeps creeping into my thoughts.

Am I the only one that has these concerns, I realise that most of you probably have family but we don't.

 

[Guest]

Just make sure you are covered by your breakdown insurance.

 

[Rod_5041370]

Cover yourself with Red Pennant from the Caravan Club, they will deal with all contingencies with just one free phone call.

I know from experience!

 

[BeemerMal]

Margaret....we have the same problem, my wife has never wanted to learn to drive even though I have tried to get her to learn for 35 years now. She claims there are enough idiots on the road already and my response is usually that one more would'nt make much difference.

Consequently, we rarely go out to restaurants or to the pub if any driving is involved because it is always me who stays on the soft drinks! And, somewhat annoying because my wife rarely drinks alcohol anyway.

When caravanning abroad we take out insurance to cover repatriation to the uk if the driver is taken ill but in the UK we don't have any cover other than Green Flag. If it happened in the UK I would get a family member to collect the car/caravan to drive home.

 

[Rod_5041370]

Cover yourself with Red Pennant from the Caravan Club, they will deal with all contingencies with just one free phone call.

I know from experience!

 

[JasonR_374341560]

If you have good travel insurance they will arrange to get you, husband and pooch home and return your car and caravan. Some years ago we worked collecting and delivering caravans to earn extra income. I went to Spain twice and collected complete outfits and returned them to the owners homes in the UK and collected another car and caravan from southern Italy with the owner and his wife as he'd broken an arm and wrist. They opted to return with me as the lady was scared of flying and the insurers were happy to oblige. They actually finished the holiday on the site they were on at the time of his fall before I was sent to collect them.

A friends Range Rover blew its engine in France two summers back, the insurers gave them a hire car for the rest of the stay and then had the repaired car and caravan trailered back to England when the car was ready. They were flown home with their parents at the end of the three week holiday.

If you are really worried I would call your insurers and present your concerns to them, if they can't give a satisfactory answer change to an insurer who can.

 

[TD42]

car breakdown ins cover from the caravan club or camping & caravan club, RAC, greenflag will get you & your van home in the UK for the continent I would recommend either of the clubs continental cover for peace of mind in al circumstnces

 

[CheapnCheerful]

Be careful - I found out that breakdown policies often do not cover driver illness.

I was travelling solo from Cardiff to Essex, and during the journey became ill. I was becoming steadily worse and when I got to South Mimms Services decided that I was no longer well enough to drive, so I pulled in and called the AA for help.

They sent someone out - but due to crossed wires believed it was the car that was unfit to drive rather than myself. When I graphically explained the problem by vomiting in front of him, he explained that they were only insured to relay broken cars, and that technically to relay me home would therefore have been illegal.

So he decided that we would pretend that there was a fault with the brakes, and started to make arrangements. Now despite there being an AA depot at South Mimms full of recovery trucks, apparantly none of them were available, and as it was late at night it would be a considerable wait for one! So in the end I phoned my parents in Essex since that would be quicker, and they both came out so that one of them could drive me and my car home!

 

[Royston]

Green Flag has a policy to cover you if the main driver becomes ill, and will provide a driver to get you home, not sure if this applies abroad.

 

[Ian341]

Hi Margaret,

On a previous holiday I had an accident and badly injured my ribs. I could barely walk so driving was a no no.

My wife can drive but she had never towed before and the pitch we were on needed some clever manouvering.

We were so amazed by the help we were offered on site by follow caravanners which was a real help. Some kind people offered to take down the full awning for us and get the van ready to tow.

I spoke to some caravan dealers who said that for a charge they would transport us and the caravan home but we were in the middle of England and we live in South Wales so it would have been very expensive when my wife could have done it.

We started with her towing 20 miles and then stopping for a night. The following day we then completed the journey with only one problem (how to get the van into the drive - easily resolved with helpful neighbours). All the time though we were reassured that there were people out there who were willing to help us.

Plenty of people would be there to help you in the unfortunate case of someone becoming ill or hurt.

Hope this helps

Ian

 

[MargaretW.]

Hi Margaret,

As the others say - make sure of your breakdown people. Fortunately, I can and do two and it is even more important now that hubby has lost left vision and his licence.

My idea is to type out a list of "Things to Do" in the event... especially as we also take the cat with us.

List the name of the breakdown service, and MOST IMPORTANT the address and post code of where you are!.

Try not to worry, there is always someone who will help.

Margaret W,

 

[giovanni_5060838]

For traveling abroad, the caravan club has red pennant motoring&personel insurance.

This policy seems to cover,all aspects that you might encounter.

 

[Mike_5040866]

I am the only driver but we are in Green Flag via the Caravan Club that covers such eventuality should the worse happen.