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Original poster

Worried someone travelling to me has been in an accident

135 replies

Schoolchoicesucks · 07/12/2023 17:33

My elderly parents were driving to visit me today. They left home at 9 and it's a max 4 hour journey and they haven't arrived. Can't find any reports of serious accidents on highways agency website. Both of their phones seem to be switched off as going straight to automated can't take your call right now.
The journey's 120 miles so not sure where to start ringing around hospitals. Any ideas for who else I could call to find out of they might have been in an accident?

OP posts:
OhNoForever · 07/12/2023 19:30

Schoolchoicesucks · 07/12/2023 18:19

They were stuck for 4 hours. They "sent" a text. Except didn't press send. And switched their phones off

Oh my goodness you must be so annoyed/relieved!

Andthereyougo · 07/12/2023 19:33

Glad they’re ok and are with you. My aunt and uncle went missing for over 12 hours on a journey from Manchester to Bristol. They’d somehow managed to get on the M1 instead of M6 and M5 and ended up on the North Circular, only realised when they saw sign for Shepherd’s Bush….

LardoBurrows · 07/12/2023 19:40

Andthereyougo · 07/12/2023 19:33

Glad they’re ok and are with you. My aunt and uncle went missing for over 12 hours on a journey from Manchester to Bristol. They’d somehow managed to get on the M1 instead of M6 and M5 and ended up on the North Circular, only realised when they saw sign for Shepherd’s Bush….

OMG😬. Reminds me of a woman I worked with, she and her DH decided to drive to Cornwall for their annual holiday, only they ended up on the Isle of Wight. Apparently they realised things had gone a bit wrong when they found themselves in a queue for the IOW ferry, but decided to just go with it.

NotFastButFurious · 07/12/2023 19:41

What a relief!
this is absolutely the sort of thing my parents would do yet they’d go batshit crazy if we did it to them!

Rightsraptor · 07/12/2023 19:42

You do hear stories about people who get trapped on motorways, going round the M25 for instance and not being able to get off.

I had a friend, who would 80 now if she'd lived, who saw her mobile only in terms of her phoning or messaging out, not anyone needing to contact her. She'd be impossible to find and say 'I didn't think I'd need to contact anyone so I turned my phone off'.

Glad your DPs have arrived safely, OP.

OftIwandered · 07/12/2023 19:51

Great relief. You must all be exhausted. Better let your sister know.

ithinkthatmaybeimdreaming · 07/12/2023 19:55

I'm so pleased they have arrived OP. I was just about to post that my DF once got held up after a crash on a bridge, and although the detour route was only half an hour inland it took him 5 hours to travel what should have been a less than one hour journey.

SkaneTos · 07/12/2023 19:55

Great update, OP! What a relief.
I hope you have a lovely visit.

blowfishh · 07/12/2023 20:05

Great outcome! Enjoy your visit x

UsingChangeofName · 07/12/2023 20:08

Thanks for updating us. What a worry, then what a relief.
I bet your parents are exhausted.
Although 4 hours does seem rather optimistic for that journey. I would always assume there will be delays somewhere between Manchester and Birmingham on the M6.
Perhaps get them a lead for the phone that means they can keep it on charge in the car, and not worry about feeling they need to turn the phone off.

Hopefully you have remembered to update your sister, and the police.

WittynotPretty · 07/12/2023 20:21

There was a massive delay on the M6 today, about 3 hours around J16-20(?). Hopefully they just pulled off the motorway to wait it out or they’re on Aroafs and taking their time.

Elderflower14 · 07/12/2023 20:26

My sister and I and Wilf were once stuck for five hours in thick snow on the A12. Started about 6pm... Wilf with his autism got totally fed up and kept winding the window down and yelling "COME ORN WILLYA ALL PEASSSSSE MOVE!!!"
My other overriding memories were my Mum asking if she should ring the police? Errrr NO! My sister needing a wee and the only tissues we had were balsam ones. She said she had a very warm wee!! 🤣 🤣 🤣
Wilf decided he needed a wee and I nearly broke my neck on the ice wearing my high heeled boots.. We ended up listening to I Claudius on Radio 4... It was bloody boring.
One of my friends was an hour behind us on the M25 with her partner and pulled into a Mcds car park till I could tell her we were moving. My phone died so I had to download FB to my sisters phone!! It was a bloody awful few hours. We eventually got to Mum's at 1. 30am. My sister didn't fancy the last flue miles.
Without fail now every year on SCD final night Mum says I always think of you on the A12.. She had been watching it while all the drama was going on!!
Not a journey I EVER want to repeat!!! 🤯 🤯 🤯 🤯

Elderflower14 · 07/12/2023 20:27

flue
four

Gonners · 07/12/2023 20:29

Glad to hear they've arrived safely, OP.

You do hear stories about people who get trapped on motorways, going round the M25 for instance and not being able to get off.

That reminds me of a journey from South West London to Kent on the M25, the weekend after it opened. We'd been driving for about an hour before we noticed that they hadn't put up any signage on the exits, and we had absolutely no idea where we were. No wonder it was deserted!

JudgeJ · 07/12/2023 20:37

Gonners · 07/12/2023 20:29

Glad to hear they've arrived safely, OP.

You do hear stories about people who get trapped on motorways, going round the M25 for instance and not being able to get off.

That reminds me of a journey from South West London to Kent on the M25, the weekend after it opened. We'd been driving for about an hour before we noticed that they hadn't put up any signage on the exits, and we had absolutely no idea where we were. No wonder it was deserted!

I wrote on a different thread today about my daughter and boyfriend driving from Cambridge to the North West but wanted to visit Stratford, surprised that the sat nav sent them south on the A1, but never wondered why, even more surprised to arrive in East London so they were very very late getting to us!

BananaSplitsss · 07/12/2023 20:38

LardoBurrows · 07/12/2023 19:40

OMG😬. Reminds me of a woman I worked with, she and her DH decided to drive to Cornwall for their annual holiday, only they ended up on the Isle of Wight. Apparently they realised things had gone a bit wrong when they found themselves in a queue for the IOW ferry, but decided to just go with it.

Show quote history

No fucking way. That’s insane. If I was their relative I’d have been frantic

monicagellerbing · 07/12/2023 20:40

I'd be so so cross they had their phones turned off, how irresponsible of them and totally needless. Pleased they are there safe

HardcoreLadyType · 07/12/2023 20:40

So pleased they’ve arrived.

My FIL does that with his phone - turns it off so it won’t “waste” battery. What is even the point of having a phone if no one can call you! Gaaah!

Brefugee · 07/12/2023 20:46

Schoolchoicesucks · 07/12/2023 18:19

They were stuck for 4 hours. They "sent" a text. Except didn't press send. And switched their phones off

what a relief.
Are you having the conversation about not having the phone switched off in circumstances like this?
I am constantly worrying about my elderly mum, and she always has her bloody phone off. Then if she needs it in an emergency she puts the wrong PIN in. And doesn't have one with facial recognition (I worry someone might steal it and use her face to break into it)

Mañanarama · 07/12/2023 20:50

My heart was in my mouth reading this. I had a friend who died in a car crash on his way to my house when we were 20, pre mobile phone days. It was the worst thing ever, obviously, but not least my annoyance that he was running so late. I try to keep a cool head when people don’t arrive in good time, but it’s hard once you get awful thoughts. Your parents should have made sure you got their message, but I’m glad they’re safe.

Copperoliverbear · 07/12/2023 20:50

Ohh thank goodness, I was panicking and they're not obviously even my parents x

Elderflower14 · 07/12/2023 20:51

Mañanarama · 07/12/2023 20:50

My heart was in my mouth reading this. I had a friend who died in a car crash on his way to my house when we were 20, pre mobile phone days. It was the worst thing ever, obviously, but not least my annoyance that he was running so late. I try to keep a cool head when people don’t arrive in good time, but it’s hard once you get awful thoughts. Your parents should have made sure you got their message, but I’m glad they’re safe.

So sorry... Sending a huge hug 🤗 xx

Dixiechickonhols · 07/12/2023 20:51

Glad they are safe. My mum in late 70s is same with turning mobile phone off. Nothing you say makes any difference. She doesn’t turn her landline off.

Jadebanditchillipepper · 07/12/2023 20:56

I remember something happening years ago with my dh who got stuck for about six hours on his way home from a football match. It was in the very early days of mobile phones and we only really used them for work. Even though he had the phone with him, it didn't occur to him to phone me and let me know what had happened! Me and his Dad were frantic!

BlazingJune · 07/12/2023 21:01

How old are your parents @Schoolchoicesucks ?

It might be worth thinking about whether they are too old to do this kind of trip.
They sound quite lacking in what should be the basics of how to communicate.

Once you are all settled, can you give them a few lessons in IT to help keep them safe?

Me and DH may be their age (we're close to 70) but we know how to have what3words on our phones, have them fully charged, know how to charge them in the car and activate trackers on our phones.

At the very least they should have called you (or checked the text had sent).

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