To think they are insane to travel in this?

[hugsandpugs]

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?

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?

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

This is a spiteful post.

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

Even if it's not dangerous, I can't see the trip being at all enjoyable in these conditions!

Because Wales isn’t an island

The bridges are closed and Wales is under "only necessary travel' advice.

I went on a coach trip, (Liverpool to Whitby) while part of a motorway was closed, it put an hour on the journey. It isn't worth it if there's disruption (without dangerous weather). Coach drivers come under driving restrictions. It meant that we needed to take a longer break at Leeds services, then swap drivers on the way home (he met us in the works van). You'd end up on a day out on the coach, with one/two hours in Birmingham. A lot of the stalls won't be fully set up. Ours in Liverpool aren't going to be.

Well this made me giggle. It's not a prison 😆

Did you also peep through your nets in Covid too.

Birmingham, Gatwick and Heathrow airports are open as normal, with minor or no delays. However, Cardiff is closed until 11. Personally I wouldn’t be going from south wales to Birmingham today, but that’s not because of the weather 😂

I'm just here for the bridge comments.

Travelling in wind isn't fun. Many years ago, I remember a tree just missing my car. I was driving and could see it suddenly wobble. If I'd braked, it would have hit me.

So I can see why people shouldn't travel in extreme winds. And I can see why bridges get closed.

No, let the hospitals fill with dickheads, so those who get ill, through no fault of their own, end up in corridors. I'm sure those working in emergency services really need to be out rescuing dickheads.

Yes, all major bus operators insure themselves, and therefore they decide what level of risk they're willing to accept.

Stop posting daft insurance stuff. You know thousands of people will still be driving today. Hospitals and nursing homes won't run themselves. Homecare staff will be out all day and night. Most shops and restaurants are open. Markets aren't cancelled everywhere.

Roads? Wales is also connected by land.

Where are you seeing that it's downgraded? Still red on MetOffice.

@hugsandpugs I'd have cancelled too. Even if the journey wasn't spectacularly shit, I wouldn't fancy wandering round Christmas markets in this! Our local one has been cancelled anyway.

Tbh the vast majority of the journey there will be in areas that are yellow for wind, and by the time you're back the red and amber warnings will be over. Travel disruption is likely but I wouldn't class it as certain death (which some posters appear to be implying).

There's a lot of south wales not covered by the red warning and the trip is driving away from the red zone.
I'm assuming they aren't starting in Tenby and driving down the M4 mind

@hugsandpugs It's a red warning. YANBU. Good choice.

@DragonGypsyDoris Do you think they issue those when it's all fine and dandy?!
People will die because parts of buildings will come off, trees will uproot, there will be flooding and shorelines will be battered.It might as well be a typhoon. There was suggestion there may be a tornado in amongst it. 90miles an hour winds are not to be taken lightly, wtf.

Haha! I go to Wales all the time and never go over a bridge. Not everyone lives in London

Maybe the point being made is that the winds are bad enough that both bridges have been closed. So maybe better to avoid driving in the area as it is very very windy 🤷‍♀️

When I was driving for work even driving on an amber would invalidate insurance if the advice was not to drive.

Yeah but everyone who would otherwise be using the bridge will be going the same way so even if the wind isn't as bad that way the traffic will be. They'll likely spend more time on the coach than at their destination!

There are a lot of road closures due to trees where I am. The wind is also not set to drop much through the day and will be a northerly so likelihood of more trees down. I am a sure it will be possible to make it burn it might end being a very long journey if they get stuck in road closures and need to make detours

When I worked for the fire service I'd always be a bit confused and surprised by some of the situations put themselves in and the accidents that ensued, this sort of attitude explains it i guess.