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Original poster

To think they are insane to travel in this?

178 replies

hugsandpugs · 07/12/2024 07:05

Booked onto a bus trip to Birmingham a couple of months back. Travelling from South Wales. Trip was planned for today, guessed it would be cancelled due to the red/yellow weather warnings.

Apparently though, the trip is still going ahead 😬🤷‍♀️ Honestly can’t understand how the bus company are still gonna risk driving in these conditions. I’ve said I’m not taking the risk and decided not to go. Yes it’s annoying that I’ll lose my money but I’d rather have my life especially with three young children who need me.

Would you have still gone on the trip? Or am I right in thinking the bus company should have cancelled and refunded everyone or given the option to reschedule?

OP posts:
AllHisCaterpillarFriends · 07/12/2024 08:31

RoamingGnome · 07/12/2024 07:15

If you're on X/Twitter put a post up about this & tag the bus company & the local police. Sounds very dangerous.

This is a spiteful post.

I wouldn't travel either. But I wouldn't dictate what others do.

Conniebygaslight · 07/12/2024 08:29

Missionimprobable · 07/12/2024 07:16

I'm in York and there's plans to shut the Christmas market if/when the storm hits.
It's all calm here at the moment.
I did wonder if the tourists are still planning to travel in, it would be an awful day in York if they've travelled far.
I don't blame you for not going, you don't want to end up stuck.

We’ve got tea booked and drinks in York later, we’re crossing fingers trains are running

SelfCareBear · 07/12/2024 08:28

coffeesaveslives · 07/12/2024 07:45

@Lisbeth50 yes, I'm well aware 🙄

Have you not seen the news? The Severn bridges are closed and there's a huge red warning for danger to life - so again, how are they planning to safely drive a coach to Birmingham in this?

Well for a start you don't go over the Severn Bridge to get from South Wales to Birmingham 🤣

But that aside it's madness for the trip to go ahead. The Birmingham Christmas markets are all shut for the day anyway aren't they, due to the weather?

MissyB1 · 07/12/2024 08:27

We are in Gloucestershire, travelling up to a family get together in Stafford today, not driving, booked on a train - if they are running. It's gusty winds and raining here, it's been booked for months so don't feel like we can back out. Hoping trains are running and it goes smoothly 🤞

sashh · 07/12/2024 08:26

Can I just raise another point? It isn't just getting to Brum, it is getting back home afterwards.

sanityisamyth · 07/12/2024 08:25

coffeesaveslives · 07/12/2024 07:52

@Lisbeth50 because going over the bridges is the main way to get in and out of Wales, and they're currently closed due to extreme weather?

Yes, there are other roads but they're hardly going to be safe to travel on are they? I didn't think that would need spelling out to so many people!

Why would you go over the bridges though to get from wales to Birmingham? They literally go in the opposite direction?!

lonelynewname · 07/12/2024 08:22

M50-M5 from Cardiff to Bham= no Severn Bridge.

Birmingham Xmas market is not closed today but it would be a miserable experience imo in this and I’d cancel the whole day too. It’s on until 24th OP :)

magicmole · 07/12/2024 08:22

RedRiverShore5 · 07/12/2024 08:10

So it's not invalidated then

Show quote history

Insurance isn't invalidated so it's legal to drive but they may not pay out as much (or at all) if there's an incident/damage. People have to decide for themselves how big the risk is and if it's worth it for the trip they want/need to make.

ThePoshUns · 07/12/2024 08:20

coffeesaveslives · 07/12/2024 07:45

@Lisbeth50 yes, I'm well aware 🙄

Have you not seen the news? The Severn bridges are closed and there's a huge red warning for danger to life - so again, how are they planning to safely drive a coach to Birmingham in this?

You go up the M50 to Birmingham from south wales , you don't go over the bridges

ThePoshUns · 07/12/2024 08:18

I was supposed to be going on a bus trip to London today from S Wales. That has been cancelled because of the weather.
I suppose Birmingham doesn't require you to go over either of the Severn bridges

sashh · 07/12/2024 08:18

QuizzicalPause · 07/12/2024 08:05

I'm just going to leave this here.

This one shows the mountains. If you are not on a motorway then you are on country roads at least when you get to England.

www.worldatlas.com/maps/united-kingdom/wales

RedRiverShore5 · 07/12/2024 08:18

I wish people didn't just blithely post that insurance will be invalidated just because they think it should be, this also happens on the cars without MOT threads

Clafoutie · 07/12/2024 08:15

coffeesaveslives · 07/12/2024 07:32

@DragonGypsyDoris I didn't say it was. And I'm well aware that companies self-insure.

But if you choose to travel in a red warning when the government has specifically told you not to, you'll quickly find yourself being sued if your bus gets damaged and your passengers are injured or killed. No amount of "self insurance" is going to pay for that fuck up.

Exactly.

magicmole · 07/12/2024 08:13

I don't think insurance is invalidated. From the AA:

"Can I drive during a red weather warning?
Yes, you can drive during any weather warning, be it red, amber or yellow. But the aim is to make you aware of the risks and their likelihood so that you can plan ahead. Your insurance provider won't invalidate your policy just because you had to drive in heavy snow or strong winds. If your car is taxed, has a valid MOT and is insured, you're legal for being on the road".

But wouldn't an insurance company also seek to reduce the payout for any incident/damage by claiming contributory negligence on the part of the insured? They already do this anyway if they think your actions might have been part of the reason something happened or you did something that made the situation worse.

So if there's an official govt warning not to drive, but you do and there's an accident/vehicle damage during the trip, they might try to hold the insured people partly responsible for it. Or would they look to reduce compensation for passengers because they also should have known better than to travel when it's not absolutely necessary? Particularly in a bus which could be more vulnerable to the wind than a car. Insurance companies don't like paying out and driving during a red warning might give them an excuse.

https://www.theaa.com/car-insurance/advice/red-weather-warnings-and-driving

Driving and bad weather warnings | AA Insurance

It's safer not driving when there's a red weather warning, but if you have to drive then your car is still insured.

https://www.theaa.com/car-insurance/advice/red-weather-warnings-and-driving

QuizzicalPause · 07/12/2024 08:11

RedRiverShore5 · 07/12/2024 08:10

So it's not invalidated then

Show quote history

Might as well be invalidated if they aren't going to cover you though. Probably worth checking individual policies I guess.

RedRiverShore5 · 07/12/2024 08:10

coffeesaveslives · 07/12/2024 08:08

@RedRiverShore5 it may not technically be invalidated but many will use it as a get out clause if you have an accident. A quick google brings up a few examples.

A bit like how it's not illegal to drive through floodwater but if you do it and fuck your car up, they may not pay for any damage.

So it's not invalidated then

coffeesaveslives · 07/12/2024 08:08

@RedRiverShore5 it may not technically be invalidated but many will use it as a get out clause if you have an accident. A quick google brings up a few examples.

A bit like how it's not illegal to drive through floodwater but if you do it and fuck your car up, they may not pay for any damage.

Glitchymn1 · 07/12/2024 08:07

I will be travelling a short distance today, but looking at the list of closures, cancellations and disruption, I likely wouldn’t go that distance. It’ll take much longer, there will be delays etc. All it takes is a fallen tree. Once there you’ll be wet and miserable. 🤷🏼‍♀️

coffeesaveslives · 07/12/2024 08:06

ErrolTheDragon · 07/12/2024 08:01

because going over the bridges is the main way to get in and out of Wales, and they're currently closed due to extreme weather?

That's a rather southern-centric view.
But yeah, daft to go from south wales to Birmingham anytime today.

I'm from Cumbria Confused

QuizzicalPause · 07/12/2024 08:05

I'm just going to leave this here.

To think they are insane to travel in this?
ErrolTheDragon · 07/12/2024 08:01

because going over the bridges is the main way to get in and out of Wales, and they're currently closed due to extreme weather?

That's a rather southern-centric view.
But yeah, daft to go from south wales to Birmingham anytime today.

grimupnorthnot · 07/12/2024 08:01

RedRiverShore5 · 07/12/2024 07:41

Have we got any proofs that insurance is invalidated in a red warning or is this just what people like to think

It’s not.

Plus the red warning looks to have been downgraded to orange.

RedRiverShore5 · 07/12/2024 08:00

coffeesaveslives · 07/12/2024 07:12

@DragonGypsyDoris they won't be insured and I hopefully if they try and drive they'll be stopped by police.

Do you have a link to this no insurance or are you making it up as you go along

sashh · 07/12/2024 07:59

I'm in Wolverhampton.

The weather here is foul today, OP you made the right decision.

A couple of local markets are closing, not Christmas markets just the ordinary ones.

candlerhyme · 07/12/2024 07:57

coffeesaveslives · 07/12/2024 07:52

@Lisbeth50 because going over the bridges is the main way to get in and out of Wales, and they're currently closed due to extreme weather?

Yes, there are other roads but they're hardly going to be safe to travel on are they? I didn't think that would need spelling out to so many people!

Where to begin.

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