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AIBU?

To go to the press?

197 replies

29herzie · 10/02/2016 13:39

So, WIBU to take the following to the papers or does anyone have a better suggestion?

We hired a car a few weeks ago on holiday. It turned out that it had an electric parking brake (no handbrake). DH discovered that the only way to know if this button hand been pressed (and if the brake was on) was a tiny red light on the dashboard. DH is colourblind and couldn't see the light in the sun. The car then rolled off down the hill, luckily without my DCs in the back and ended up 'only' demolishing a fence. We were in the Alps and so could have been much worse.

We are currently still waiting on the outcome of the dispute with the car hire company about this, but I also contacted the car manufacturer. I believe there is a design flaw that they need to address. They have just come back to me to say that it's nothing to do with them and we need to make our needs known to a hire company in future. I am not happy with this and feel that they should be thinking about making sure their cars are safe to drive, DH can't be the only driver who is red/green colourblind?

What do you think?

OP posts:
PegsPigs · 10/02/2016 13:40

Fair point that I imagine no one considered at the design stage.

JohnLuther · 10/02/2016 13:40

Why would the press be interested?

PaulAnkaTheDog · 10/02/2016 13:41

Totally pointless. It's not a design flaw and no paper would pick this up as a story.

DoesAnyoneReadTheseThings · 10/02/2016 13:43

What make is the car?

Nottodaythankyouorever · 10/02/2016 13:43

Why would the press be interested

This

LittleLionMansMummy · 10/02/2016 13:43

The press wouldn't be remotely interested unless you had evidence it has happened to loads of other people and caused serious injury/ death.

Sirzy · 10/02/2016 13:44

When he realised he struggled with the handbrake did he contact the hire company to see if he could arrange a suitable alternative car?

slebmum1 · 10/02/2016 13:44

I dont think it's a design flaw.

PaulAnkaTheDog · 10/02/2016 13:45

Well, Daily Mail might be interested if it comes with a sad face picture.

BunnyTyler · 10/02/2016 13:45

You can tell if the handbrake is on or not by whether it rolls down a hill, surely?!

My last 2 cars have had electric handbrakes - I put the brake on when I stop, and then always press it again when I turn the engine off.

I'm sorry, but I think YABveryU and just trying to find a loophole for what was a mistake and an accident.

ZiggyFartdust · 10/02/2016 13:46

I think you had an accident and are going way overboard in trying to make it someone elses fault.
Do you know how much testing new car design features need to get through? It will have been rigorously tested, there is no way that nobody ever considered it.
If you can't tell what colour the handbrake light is, the light is still on, it doesn't disappear.

HortonWho · 10/02/2016 13:46

Our car has an electric parking brake too. It's not a design flaw. DH didn't realise it was there for 6 months and we live in a town with hills, so you must've been on a pretty steep hill for the car to have rolled.

Why did you not look into a car manual or ask questions at the rental place if you could not locate the parking brake yourself?

Did you steer the wheels in the correct position when you parked? Car would have done a semi circle and hit the curb, if you had.

SpringHasNearlySprung · 10/02/2016 13:46

Why did you not check of the dash light was on? It was totally irresponsible to get out of the car not knowing if the light was on or not.

AlwaysHopeful1 · 10/02/2016 13:47

Why on earth would you take this to the press. There are many other routes to pursue this . Sounds like you want to create some attention.

NerrSnerr · 10/02/2016 13:49

Why would the press care. Can you clarify the colour blind bit? Even if colour blind surely he would still see if the light was on or off?

FoxesSitOnBoxes · 10/02/2016 13:50

So if it's sunny and the traffic light goes red does he see that?

elelfrance · 10/02/2016 13:50

A red light is a fairly standard way of indicating something is on/off

My Dad is red/green colourblind too, and he can tell the difference most of the time if a light is lit up or not by the brightness. If he can't, he'll press the button a few times to see the difference and be sure.

brummiesue · 10/02/2016 13:51

Ummmmm my volvo has this, it's completely normal and safe and everyone else manages to not roll down hills...

NerrSnerr · 10/02/2016 13:51

Sorry, I see he couldn't see the light in the sun. I think it's his responsibility to shield the sun to check (or ask you to) to make sure the break was on.

Sirzy · 10/02/2016 13:51

And if he is colour blind to the point he can't see if a red light is on how can he drive safely? Given red is a pretty key warning colour for cars and on roads! Traffic lights? Brake lights?

29herzie · 10/02/2016 13:53

Ok, it not that a braking brake is a design flaw; the flaw was in the lack of any indicator. Fair enough if it's your own car and you get used to its controls but we felt that something as fundamental as a brake should not need reference to the manual.

ziggi - when the sun shone on the dash the light was not bright enough to to show. Just a slight colour change.

Horton - we weren't parked on a street with a curb.

Little - trying to avoid lots of carnage, that is my point

Surat - was a bit late by then. He could see the light on pick up as it was dark.. Only realised the other issue later... When the car rolled off down the mountain.

OP posts:
29herzie · 10/02/2016 13:54

Yes he can see traffic lights and brake lights. Pretty obvious that the red light is at the top...

OP posts:
ridemesideways · 10/02/2016 13:54

If the car was unsuitable for him, he should have returned it immediately. Sounds like you're trying to get out of paying for the damage charge?

BastardGoDarkly · 10/02/2016 13:54

Fuck sake op, even if he couldn't see the colour and couldn't see the light, why on earth would he not test the roll before he got out, and you know left it on a hill ?!

29herzie · 10/02/2016 13:56

Sorry didn't mean to drip feed as I was trying to keep my post simple. My problem is with the way the warning light is displayed. Every other car I've seen with a parking brake has some kind of hysical indicator like the switch stays depressed when on. Or just has a brighter light!

OP posts:
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