Getting snowed in

[myoho]

We are forecast heavy snow tomorrow. I live at the very end of a long windy road which is downhill. I park on my own driveway. In the past when we've had heavy snow I have been snowed in either because I can't get up the hill and/or because other vehicles are stranded up the road.

This is my first winter in a new job and my manager expects me to park my car away from my house on the main road so I can get to work. AIBU to worry that my car might get damaged by someone ploughing into it in bad weather and/or my insurance company would not pay up if they did as I clearly state that my car is parked on my drive overnight?

Would you do this?

I’m trying to understand what you mean. So if you park on your drive when you come out of it cars are abandoned either side of the road and you won’t be able to get passed them? Can you not park on your drive and then if that happens walk to the bottom of the road and order a taxi?

What is your job?

What she means is that when the weather is bad she doesn't park on her drive at all, but on the main road further away (because it's up the hill and probably more likely to be clear).

OP I wouldn't imagine this would be an issue. You'd be covered if you parked overnight at a friend's house, or when you're parked outside a holiday home for a week at a time. The wording on the policy is usually something like "where is your car usually kept overnight" - yours is usually on the drive.

However, if there is an amber or red snow warning in your part of hte country you really shouldn't travel at all if you can at all avoid it.

I'm a deputy manager of a care home.

buttermeupscotty when I say my drive, it isn't a drive I turn into , it's outside my house and goes round the side of my house. It isn't a main road and my house is at a dead end so nobody comes down here , I am the very last house. Yes, people have tried to get out of the road and failed , leaving their cars stranded.

I didn't think of a taxi , that's a good idea, just hope they're happy when they see it on my expenses claim form!

There won't be an insurance issue, as parking away from home occasionally is fine.

Whether it is prudent to attempt to get to work at all will depend on how much snowfall you get. But maximising your chances of doing so, by parking the work-side of a notoriously difficult stretch of road seems sensible.

As those who can work from home are already doing so, it must be essential important you attend. Even if it is just too bad on the day, being positioned to get through in mild/moderate conditions is sensible. Change to winter tyres if you can (and have not already done so)

Park on your drive. Buy a snow shovel today and get up early

We live on a cul de sac and often struggle during snow/ice. If we can't stay home, we park our car at the local park and walk the rest of the way home

I don't think your work would refund you because your unable to drive there. It's not your employers fault that you live at the bottom of a hill and get impacted by snow. Surely it's the employees responsibility to make their own way to work, utilising public transport if you can't drive.

Why would you be able to claim for the taxi on expenses? I can't imagine you claim for fuel/motoring costs. Work aren't responsible for covering the cost of your commute.

wetotter sadly I can't work from home. I don't have winter tyres but my car is due a service this week so I will maybe give the garage a call beforehand to discuss.

My main worry is someone driving into it in bad conditions. All around where I live is windy and a bit hilly.

You'd be a bit cheeky expensing a taxi to work, and id expect it to get rejected. Your commuting costs are yours. I'f you've chosen to live somewhere difficult to access/egress or have bought an inappropriate vehicle for your situation, that is not your employers problem.

If it is necessary for you to use your car at some point then you would be best to park it where you can get out of your street.

Buy some snow socks for your tyres for about £20, park on your drive, drive to work in the morning.

It's similar where I live and I've often parked on the main road at the top of the hill so I can walk up in the morning rather than join the queue of neighbours attempting to drive out and inevitably sliding back down the hill.

Work cannot instruct you where to park, though my previous one also tried to.

However, the bigger issue is, is it safe to travel. So my advice, well what I did, was to have the road cameras on your phone, eg the motorway cameras, as this shows the conditions of the area. Take screen shots. Take screenshot of police advice not to drive unless an emergency. I did the above and though it was counted as a key service, I sent the above in and stated I was able to wfh doing xyz (I made sure that I had work with me specifically set aside at that time). I didn't receive any issues as a result.
Your employer is obligated to ensure your safety and wellbeing as well as the residents.

Christmasfairy2020 if only it was that simple. I have a snow shovel but the windy road is long and the snow impacts a long way. A few winters ago there were many neighbours out with snow shovels but it was impossible to get it cleared and cars were left stranded.

I will take up the taxi suggestion and swallow the cost. I work in a very rural part of the country so not sure a taxi would even be able to get there but at least I will have tried.

This is possibly needless worry as 'snow Armageddon' will likely be a few flakes!

@RaspberryCoulis

What she means is that when the weather is bad she doesn't park on her drive at all, but on the main road further away (because it's up the hill and probably more likely to be clear).

OP I wouldn't imagine this would be an issue. You'd be covered if you parked overnight at a friend's house, or when you're parked outside a holiday home for a week at a time. The wording on the policy is usually something like "where is your car usually kept overnight" - yours is usually on the drive.

However, if there is an amber or red snow warning in your part of hte country you really shouldn't travel at all if you can at all avoid it.

That's not what she said at all

I think people are crazy not having winter tyres in the uk. Yes it doesn’t snow that often, but they make a huge difference on just icey or wet roads. It rains all winter in uk

We live in a snowy climate. Drive a small corsa, so not a huge off road 4x4 people seem to think everyone can afford to own. With winter tyres we cope all winter fine, only adding snow chains maybe once or twice if we head even higher up. We live at the top of a large hill. We have had snow and ice constantly since November.

If you need to get somewhere like work, always have basics at home to do so. A snow shovel, grit, winter tyres on car.

I know it's a pain could you arrange to stay over (is there a duty room you could use?).

A pal who is manager of care place regularly does it when the weather stops her getting safely to and from work.

Come to think of it, I did it several times myself when I was working residential and there was a route that came impassable in snow
Depending where you are in the country... It may only be for a few days.

I get it. I lived just outside London for years but once off A road, the roads became impassable. Several times I couldn't get to work. Worst thing was, London would often have less snow so I'd be coming from trudging ankle deep thro snow, ice forming under stomped on patches, falling over, hanging on to walls, cars slip sliding all over.....and yet London just had a bit of slush!

I think the prep you're doing is good. I've long had a warm blanket, spare jumper, torch and book in the car in case I'm ever stuck. I get the garage to winter prep the car. The best thing you can do is pick a good place to leave car and maybe break up the snow in the road nearby so cars can get a grip? But useless if more snow overnight. It's good that it seems the insurance would cover you if you did get pranged tho. Good luck!

My road is very similar to yours. My husband and others often park at the top of the road so they can get out if they have an early start. Last time it snowed he struggled to even get off our drive having left the house at 6.45. He and a few others got shovels out cleared a route all the way to the top.

My husband has to do this sometimes. Our road is a nightmare in snow and ice,

@myoho

Christmasfairy2020 if only it was that simple. I have a snow shovel but the windy road is long and the snow impacts a long way. A few winters ago there were many neighbours out with snow shovels but it was impossible to get it cleared and cars were left stranded.

I will take up the taxi suggestion and swallow the cost. I work in a very rural part of the country so not sure a taxi would even be able to get there but at least I will have tried.

This is possibly needless worry as 'snow Armageddon' will likely be a few flakes!

I wouldn't be so sure. This was a couple of weeks ago and we NEVER get snow. This was the most we've had since I was a very young child and I'm in my late thirties! We've also had a day of heavy snow since then as well that was almost as bad. It seems to be a particularly snowy year! ❄️

Do taxis run there when it snows? Here they all stop and many bus routes are cancelled.

yes just leave your car at the top of the hill the night before and then you can get away easier

Fwiw, some neighbours parked their cars on the road prior to the snow a few years back. 6 were written off in one go!

Can you really afford tgat risk? In terms of the cost re premiums, additional costs of new car on top and the hassle in terms of time without a car and replacing /dealing with insurance? It took 2 and a but years for my claim to finally close.