During the recent snow storms that brought the country to its knees last week, an army of 4×4 drivers took to the roads to help those in need. All over the internet videos were popping up of 4×4’s towing lorries to safety, pulling cars out of ditches, ferrying people to and from Hospitals, railway stations and aiding the Emergency services.
All over the Facebook ‘Off roading’ community groups brave 4×4 drivers have been telling how they have generously spent their free time and fuel helping those in need:
: “Since half 2 Thursday I’ve been out till midnight and up at half 6 doing runs for the NHS getting staff to and from the hospital between that was helping care workers get round to see the elderly and make sure they had everything they needed. Been rescuing cars and lorries and vans out the way to keep traffic all around Exeter and surrounding areas. Been helping friends get to and from as well”
: “300tdi disco been towing people up hills in Willand and Cullomoton also a lorry getting though Willand and a few recovery dragging people out of snow drifts let’s say I’ve had hardly any sleep and I’m feeling it today lol”
“200tdi Land Rover 90. Taking elderly people shopping. Giving people lifts to and from work helping people get there cars out. Taking people to there animal(horses)”
“Drove a doctor around Tiverton area calling on urgent patients, delivered prescriptions and took a hospice career to a remote property.”
: “Since it’s started snowing Thursday helped family members get home from work which then turned to friends of family, friends of friends and By Friday/Saturday it was just anyone & everyone who needed transport including Hospital staff to and from work. Towing people out the snow as and when I came across them.”
: “Since 1pm till gone 1/2 in the morning both nights started at 8am yesterday constantly picking up NHS staff to and from work rescued many of motorists stranded at their cars on passing taken someone from Chudleigh to Newton to care for heavily cancer ridden family member rescued a few cars that blocked roads running out of talent. And taken people with their children to seek refuge with family that have electric/gas/water non stop covering between Newton abbot to Exeter and everywhere in between.”
: “Been towing people out, giving lifts, picking people up who have been stranded and dropping them to there homes met many nice people and nice to see so many 4x4s out and about helping ???? well done everyone ????“
These are just an example of some of the brave 4×4 drivers that risked their own safety to help others, social media is full of examples just like those above, a community of 4×4 drivers pulling together to help those in need, a community that is usually frowned upon, a community that is penalised for driving the very vehicles that aided emergency services and rescued those in need last week.
One driver has actually started a petition for a decrease in road tax and some recognition for all the hard work many of us 4×4 owners put into helping out those in need.
“To the Minister for Transport
Dear Sir
Now that the worst of the winter weather for 2018 is over I ask you to consider this. Over the last week, most of the UK has been battered by winter storms which have left thousands of people stranded, and thousands of essential workers unable to do their jobs. Ordinary people. Care workers, School teachers, NHS staff, shop workers, delivery drivers….Thousands of people. Into this mess have stepped hundreds if not thousands of 4×4 drivers who have freely given their time to venture out in the worst of the weather to rescue those stranded. To ferry midwives out to pregnant women. To tow stranded 44 ton articulated lorries with their 2 ton Land Rovers. To recover cars which have become bogged in snow drifts, or stuck on hills. Mums and kids trying to get home. Plumbers trying to get to old people with no heating. Teachers trying to get to school.
This army of 4×4 drivers has kept so much of this country moving in the last week, do you think it out of place for a very public “Thank You” from the government? We have given our time, fuel, cheerfulness all without any thought of reward, other than a most heartfelt “Thank You” from those rescued, and that means the most to us.
But you and the government seen hell bent on driving us off the road with Punitive tax increases! Most of those out there this week have not been new £100,000 Range Rover drivers who can afford £2000 a year for their new cars, but ordinary people who use their 4×4’s every day for work. Farmers, construction workers, and hundreds of enthusiasts who keep these vehicles because they love them. People who need 4×4’s. And it feels like the government want these vehicles off the road with extortionate tax rises.
So please, think on this volunteer army who have done so much to help keep this country moving this week, don’t kick us too hard, or in future when you need us most, we may just not be there…….
An Old Land Rover driver…..”
The petition is almost at 15,000 signatures, if you haven’t done already, please show your support and sign the petition.
