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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To remind people to have a breakdown bag in their car?

204 replies

JustWantCoffee · 16/10/2023 20:26

This is a seriously un-smug post, as I do have a breakdown bag in my car, but today I have broken down in a vehicle that is not my car, and I do not have my breakdown bag.

I have therefore been shivering by the side of a motorway for nearly 2hrs getting colder and colder wishing I had my breakdown bag.

so if you don’t have one, I would thoroughly recommend making one. Mine has a hat, gloves, warm jumper, waterproof mac, small towel, water, biscuits, torch and a phone battery in it.

Never have I wanted that old hat and pair of gloves so much, and am trying to work out at what point the risk of hypothermia overtakes the risk of sitting in the vehicle…

OP posts:
Rummikub · 16/10/2023 22:58

@WillowCraft actually yes you’re right. I was thinking a cup or she wee might be more discrete as less exposed. Depending on what wearing.

takealettermsjones · 16/10/2023 22:58

WillowCraft · 16/10/2023 22:55

or just wee in the grass? What would you do with the wee once it's in the cup?

Show quote history

If you're a woman, I think it's generally easier to pee in a cup then tip it away, than just pee on the floor and risk getting it on your trainers. Especially if you're in the dark and the ground might be uneven, etc.

Rummikub · 16/10/2023 23:00

@takealettermsjones yes this is what I was thinking about too. Wouldn’t want to risk it with barbed wire!

QuestionableMouse · 16/10/2023 23:00

WillowCraft · 16/10/2023 22:54

Thanks for the reminder to put all the stuff in an easy to grab bag...I would have all the coats, blankets food etc but it's not much use if you have to spend 5 minutes getting individual items from under all the seats...

I do wonder how I would manage with 2 pre schoolers, one of them is very obedient but it could be quite awkward to get them both out quickly, with a bag of stuff.

A tip a police officer gave me is to keep a set of harness reins per child in the car - much easier to keep hold of those than small hands, especially near a busy road! If you get a set like this you can physically attach them to you too.

https://www.clippasafe.co.uk/products/walking-harness-with-reins

Walking Harness with Reins - Clippasafe

https://www.clippasafe.co.uk/products/walking-harness-with-reins

TastyLikeARaindrop · 16/10/2023 23:02

Glad you're safe op. I love this thread and have ordered the tent things and a couple of high vis jackets 🙂
I don't drive far but live in an area where one accident on the motorway can cause hours of chaos so I am well prepared. I have a teen who rarely wears a coat/hat/scarf/gloves so I have spare stuff for her. I always have portable chargers in my handbag which ai recharge periodically as I think they lose charge. Chocolate makes everything better so I have a good stash, ritz, crackers, cans of costa coffee and plenty of water.
I also have some incontinence pads just in case.

Chocbuttonsandredwine · 16/10/2023 23:04

Please do not light a candle in a car: Ever.

Topofthemountain · 16/10/2023 23:04

Breaking down on the motorway with small children was always my biggest worry, I'm so glad I am past that stage, but the idea of reins would have probably given me a little reassurance.

Actually my biggest fear was breaking down on a level crossing, I had mentally prepared escape plans. It was completely irrational, I use them 100% correctly but it was always a "what if?" in my head.

takealettermsjones · 16/10/2023 23:06

QuestionableMouse · 16/10/2023 22:56

Sorry!

I mean, it will give out some heat but not enough to heat an entire car, and tbh I'm not sure how safe having an open flame in a car really is!

Show quote history

No it's fine! I mean I wouldn't have left it lit while sleeping or anything... but it's a good point. Never mind, I'll keep it in the house for power cuts!

HangingOnTillChristmas · 16/10/2023 23:07

I was always led to believe that since the Marie Wilks case, that lone women, or lone women with children must be given priority if they break down, unless that's changed?
I hope you get sorted soon, if you're not already op.
I once had a flat tyre on the front drivers side on the motorway late at night in the dark and I phoned the breakdown.
Some 20 mins later, a white van pulled onto the hard shoulder behind me, a bloke hopped out and said ' right love, let's get this sorted and get you on your way '. He pulled out the spare wheel and just as he was tightening the last nut, the breakdown called me to say that the recovery was en route.
Confusion reigned. I asked the man if he was from the breakdown, he said no, he saw me stranded while he was driving down the opposite carriageway, so turned round at the nearby junction to help.
Thank you Mr Stranger and I hope you enjoyed the couple of pints that I slipped you a tenner for, for your kindness.

Original poster
JustWantCoffee · 16/10/2023 23:11

Aww @HangingOnTillChristmas what a lovely bloke - just the sort of story needed in these dark times!

OP posts:
QuestionableMouse · 16/10/2023 23:12

Topofthemountain · 16/10/2023 23:04

Breaking down on the motorway with small children was always my biggest worry, I'm so glad I am past that stage, but the idea of reins would have probably given me a little reassurance.

Actually my biggest fear was breaking down on a level crossing, I had mentally prepared escape plans. It was completely irrational, I use them 100% correctly but it was always a "what if?" in my head.

Absolutely! My two nephews are out of the toddler stage but I have a vivid memory of being at work (on a services next to the a19 which is a busy road) and seeing a car broken down on the slip road - the poor woman was on her own with three small kids in the car. We got them off the road, but I always shudder when I think about it happening somewhere more remote. That's when I got chatting to the police officer and he recommended keeping the reins in the car.

Level crossings scare the poo out of me too!

WillowCraft · 16/10/2023 23:13

HangingOnTillChristmas · 16/10/2023 23:07

I was always led to believe that since the Marie Wilks case, that lone women, or lone women with children must be given priority if they break down, unless that's changed?
I hope you get sorted soon, if you're not already op.
I once had a flat tyre on the front drivers side on the motorway late at night in the dark and I phoned the breakdown.
Some 20 mins later, a white van pulled onto the hard shoulder behind me, a bloke hopped out and said ' right love, let's get this sorted and get you on your way '. He pulled out the spare wheel and just as he was tightening the last nut, the breakdown called me to say that the recovery was en route.
Confusion reigned. I asked the man if he was from the breakdown, he said no, he saw me stranded while he was driving down the opposite carriageway, so turned round at the nearby junction to help.
Thank you Mr Stranger and I hope you enjoyed the couple of pints that I slipped you a tenner for, for your kindness.

I love how helpful men appear whenever there's a car problem!

But you should have known it wasn't the breakdown..they never come in less than an hour surely?

akkakk · 16/10/2023 23:29

My record was sub one minute! I broke down at traffic lights, the AA van was sitting the other side of the lights - he was delighted as it helped their average response time!

VitoCorleoneOfMNMafia · 16/10/2023 23:33

I have a waterproof coat, two blankets, and some 150ml cans of pop in my car. Also got a kit with a tow rope, hazard triangle, and high visibility vest in the boot. It's always a good idea to have warm layers in the back seat.

I second the shewee recommendation although I find the Pstyle less likely to leak.

Stoic123 · 16/10/2023 23:35

Thanks for this reminder OP.

MojoMoon · 16/10/2023 23:35

Was also about to say: if you have small kids, then make sure you have reins for them.

Regardless of your feelings about them in normal life (I know some people disapprove) but much better to have your preschooler on a lead like a dog by a motorway than a preschooler wrestling you to let go of your hand by a motorway.

Also if you have a dog, don't forget their lead and a water bowl!

SheilaWilde · 16/10/2023 23:36

I'm glad you're home in the warm. You've spurred me to sort out a car survival bag, thank you.
Who's your breakdown cover with? That's awful that they didn't tell you who was coming, my breakdown cover does and they text the info too.

Jurisprudense · 16/10/2023 23:37

Two things: 1) Although you may come to rest in water, your problem did NOT occur in water, otherwise breakdown services may accuse you of driving into a flood 2) NEVER insure your car with the breakdown service that you use.

Good luck all.

Rummikub · 16/10/2023 23:39

@Jurisprudense why 2?

i have breakdown and car insurance with AA - first time ever same companies.

EasterIssland · 16/10/2023 23:40

Glad you’re home now. We’re going on m4 this weekend. I’ll put a blanket if I remember just in case!

Commencethedancing · 16/10/2023 23:41

I keep a little nicely weighted steel hammer in the side of the door nearest to the driver, because I have a horror of drowning in a car because I can’t get out!

Ribidibidibidoobahday · 16/10/2023 23:42

Any suggestions of which snacks are the longest lasting? I'm not dedicated enough for a trangia and packet meal but would like to pack a snack that will last for aaaages - imagine the disappointment if you open it after years of carrying and its mouldy.
I'm thinking nuts maybe. Crackers would go stale in about a yr.

Can't be anything too yummy or else they won't last regardless of how long they last if you get what I mean.

WellIdontknowwhattocallmyself · 16/10/2023 23:43

breaking down is one of my worst nightmares as I have broken down before and been stuck for over 12 hours because the campervan we were in was too long and they didn’t have anything available, we were with the AA who kept messing us about. I too was so cold and ended up hospitalised in the end and only got £500 compensation for a massively traumatic event but I’m not sure I could’ve been prepared for it without lugging around the whole house

WellIdontknowwhattocallmyself · 16/10/2023 23:46

Ribidibidibidoobahday · 16/10/2023 23:42

Any suggestions of which snacks are the longest lasting? I'm not dedicated enough for a trangia and packet meal but would like to pack a snack that will last for aaaages - imagine the disappointment if you open it after years of carrying and its mouldy.
I'm thinking nuts maybe. Crackers would go stale in about a yr.

Can't be anything too yummy or else they won't last regardless of how long they last if you get what I mean.

A portable cooker and tins