DD has been stuck on the M5 for 6 hours

[GinForBreakfast]

I know there's been a serious incident but you can't leave people stuck on a motorway for 6 hours. That will include elderly people and tiny children. In other countries they manage to clear the roads far quicker.

No sign of anything moving and even once she does she's still 4 hours from home.

I have my car stocked at all times with cereal bars, bottles of water, a collapsible she-wee sort of bottle, a ‘space blanket’, torch, and in winter a bag of salt, small bag of cat litter (great on ice) and a snow shovel if snow is possible.

Most of these items have been used by me or offered to other people , over the years.

@LikeWhoUsesTypewritersAnyway

Those of us who live along the m5 often are using it for short everyday journeys eg dh goes one junction to cross the Avon (saves 18 miles approx) so of course he doesn't prepare for a long journey, most days it's less than 15 mins door to door including approx 5 mins on the motorway including the spur! I went on the m5 tonight to buy shopping, 3 junctions, 6 miles this time.

I’m amazed at how few of you seem to realise that if there’s any medication-dependant people stuck in those cars then there may well be another bloody fatality! Diabetics can only carry so much insulin or sugary snacks. Oxygen-dependant patients can only carry so many oxygen cylinders etc.
It’s not just bloody inconvenience for some it could genuinely put people in a life threatening position

Indeed. But when you post on a public forum looking to garner extra empathy from strangers for your own DD stuck in gridlock, people may be forgiven for thinking that your empathy is unevenly weighted.

What a ludicrous, childish comment.

You don't have to be a hero to be sensible, and prepared. It's basic common sense. And most seasoned drivers know all this.

I have been driving for 26 years but I don't have any of that in my boot.

If there's been the type of incident people have suggested it's really not a matter of just opening one lane. It's very inconvenient and uncomfortable for everyone involved but if there's been a fatality emergency services may be dealing with a horrific scene and unfortunately a family will have to be told their loved one isn't coming home. Your DD is safe op.

I have got a little line of shots in front of me for every time someone says 'mutually exclusive' on this thread. (Like they think they're the first to say it!) 😆

Smug much

@Goldenbear I really think you need to have one of these experiences to make yourself realise you need to carry that sort of thing with you. Granted I don't carry a full overnight bag for work everyday but as a commuter I now carry things that will make a longer journey home more comfortable

Why not? Very irresponsible to not have a survival pack/first aid kit/supplies if you break down.

I hope you don't drive very often!

Get yourself some supplies NOW.

Oh fgs the woman is allowed to be concerned about her own DD!!!

Sensible much.

I think I'm fine seeing as I've never needed them.

My DD is also there. With DGS who is sceaming inconsolably as he's not eaten since lunchtime. He's not quite 2. They've been there since 4.25pm.
She had no good with them as she only lives 5 miles from one junction to the next.

I know it's a serious incident but surely they could turn cars round etc?

It's saying 2.30am before it's cleared.

The child that jumped off the motorway bridge has been transported to Bristol children’s hospital a while ago. Hopefully she survived and recovers. I would think it won’t be long before they clear the road and collect their evidence and open the road back up. Hope your daughter gets home soon local Facebook page say it was extremely traumatic for all witnesses she may need some support if she directly witnessed the incident.

So your DD has left the house with a toddler and not taken any snacks with her?

Seems like people need to realise that even a "one junction to the next" journey on one of the busiest motorways in the country can lead to a delay like this. I'm sure your grandson will be fine

Do you have a better suggestion???

Inconvenient for your DD but little more than that.

We have a bag with water, snacks and a few blankets and pillows we keep in the car ‘just in case’ which has been used a couple of times when we’ve had unexpected snowfalls.

Tonight is mild. The vast majority of people in that queue will be fine.

Or we are more thorough at investigations and therefore learning and prevention.

@Goldenbear nor me, I may have a meal deal bottle of water somewhere under a seat, think I have a can rattling about from a trip to Scotland earlier in the year but I don't carry food and certainly not meds, not day to day.

The Highways vehicles will come through for anyone urgently vulnerable.

I had to attend a family emergency , driving on my own with a 5 week old baby on the hottest day of the year. A huge fairground ride had crashed off a trailer and the lorry caught fire across both carriageways.

The people in the car behind me alerted Highway Agency after 2 hours and they came and escorted me the wrong way up the hard shoulder to a service road.

SnuffleTruffleHound · Today 22:08
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Well they leave elderly people with dementia sat in a&e on a mental chair for 36hrs+ so I don’t see why they can’t.
she’s in a car, safe, warm with a comfy seat. She might be a bit hungry or need a pee but there are people much worse off, like the people in the presumed accident that is holding her up”

Sorry to be curmudgeonly, but I’m afraid I agree with this. We were very recently sat in very hard chairs in A&E before they realised just how ill my husband was, then he was taken to resus. He then spent nearly 3 weeks in hospital and needs to go back for surgery in the new year.

Really, she’ll be fine. Learn from this. Next time she goes for a long drive, go prepared.

Well, how do you prepare for delays on the road? If you have a condition that means you get an uncontrollable or frequent urge to wee or poo, surely you must have something ready in case you break down/crash/get stuck in traffic. It's not an unusual occurrence. I'm genuinely interested if you have some kind of kit in the car just in case, or if you just hope you'll always get to your destination at the expected time.

I always have a crate of water in my car and foil blankets but rarely food. We got stuck in snow two years ago and even my eight year old refused to start outside and wer herself. Reminds me to recheck my supplies in the car