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Ignorant Tourists

Keith Scantlebury

By Keith Scantlebury
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Keith Scantlebury

Keith Scantlebury

Posted
Posted

We are lucky enough to live in one of the most beautiful counties in the U.K. We have the National Park, with all the beauty of its' hills moors and forests, the splendour of Kielder water, Hadrians Wall, castles and arguably one of the best [and famous] coastlines in the world.

Tourists from overseas and other parts of Britain need to be encouraged to visit Northumberland and bring in some much needed revenue to the region. We do not want our rescue services called out to save some plain stupid, ignorant and selfish people such as those Australians who decided to drive to Holy Island an hour and a half after the safe crossing time.

Had these people come from a none English speaking country, and not be able to speak or read English, I could [maybe] have a little sympathy for them. They came from Astralia, English is their mother tongue, they had absolutely no excuse for not reading and understanding the many warning signs/information boards before driving their hire car into the North Sea. The lifeboat crew should have taken them straight to the police and had the driver prosecuted for failing to obey a warning sign. The car hire company should have the driver prosecuted for criminal damage and force him to pay for a new car, [ would the insurance company even cough up in a situation like this ?] They should also be made to pay the R.N.L.I. costs for deploying the Seahouses lifeboat, and , only after they have paid their debts, escorted to the nearest airport and sent back to Australia with their passports stamped "IDIOTS."!!!!!

People will always be caught out on the causeway by the incoming tide, that is why the safe stations are there. Motor vehicles break down, accidents happen, walkers injure themselves and for those reasons we need the sancturies to keep people safe until they are rescued.

Photograghs of the stricken vehicle along with the mugshots of the occupants and a list of rescue costs should be placed at either end of the causeway as a warning to others who think that they can beat the incoming tide. When they fail, they should then have to pay for the cost of their rescue and their photos added to the fools gallery at each end of the causeway.

Our coast is there for everyone to enjoy, British and overseas tourists alike. The Holy Island causeway is also a lifeline for those who live on the Island. Lets not let IDIOTS like those Australians spoil it for the rest of us. I heard someone suggest making the causeway a toll road, with the money used to pay the cost of rescues, I hope not.

  • 2 weeks later...
  • 1 month later...
Andy Brown

Andy Brown

Posted
Posted

.........and we have some more bozos doing the same, reported in todays Journal. As I have said, they should be prosecuted.

Agreed, they should also be charged the full amount to cover cost, then some to cover wasted time, resources, etc.

Brett

Brett

Posted
Posted

£4200 + for the Sea King to rescue stranded motorists!! How would anyone be able to foot the bill for running one of those.

I agree that it is total lack of consideration when trying to beat the tide but they couldn't foot the full bill for recovery as it will be 5 years plus wages for most people.

Barriers will look an eye sore but one thing is certain is that nothing will change to drastically as the only thing that is certain is human stupidity.

(May have mis-quoted that)

Keith Scantlebury

Keith Scantlebury

Posted
  • Author
Posted

£4200 + for the Sea King to rescue stranded motorists!! How would anyone be able to foot the bill for running one of those.

I agree that it is total lack of consideration when trying to beat the tide but they couldn't foot the full bill for recovery as it will be 5 years plus wages for most people.

Barriers will look an eye sore but one thing is certain is that nothing will change to drastically as the only thing that is certain is human stupidity.

(May have mis-quoted that)

Those people who ignore the rules and put lives at risk must surely have a total disregard for the cost of a rescue. They must also have plenty of money as they can afford to "kill" a car by driving into the North Sea. I don't think that in circumstances like that , their insurance company would cough up because their actions were self afflicted ,as it were. Brettly, most rescues are by lifeboat, occassionly R.A.F. Boulmer may be called, or if the helicopter is active in the area it may call in to offer assistance, usually if there is someone injured.

Barriers are considered not an option as there is a risk that someone will be trapped on the wrong side of them. A warning red light, coupled with details on car park tickets seem to be the prefered deterent, with those who ignore the lights (which would be red outside the safe crossing time) being prosecuted.

£4,200 = 5 years wages, Brettly. That is tantamount to slavery. Its a little over £800/year

Keith Scantlebury

Keith Scantlebury

Posted
  • Author
Posted

£4200 + for the Sea King to rescue stranded motorists!! How would anyone be able to foot the bill for running one of those.

I agree that it is total lack of consideration when trying to beat the tide but they couldn't foot the full bill for recovery as it will be 5 years plus wages for most people.

Barriers will look an eye sore but one thing is certain is that nothing will change to drastically as the only thing that is certain is human stupidity.

(May have mis-quoted that)

Barriers not an option as people may get caught on the wrond side apparrently. Prefered method is a light system coupled with notices printed on car park tickets. Red light will be on outside the safe crossing times with those who ignore it , open to prosecution and costs.

Brettly, those who ignore the safe crossing times must have plenty of money anyway if they could afford to purposly drive their car into the North Sea and "kill it". I would be surprised if an insurance company would pay out as it would be negligence on the drivers part. They must also have a total disregard for the cost of a rescue as well as the safety of thir passengers and their rescuers.

£4200 = 5 years wages that is tantamount to slavery (little over £800/year)

Brett

Brett

Posted
Posted

Apologies Keith, I missed a '0' from that total. This is the amount that the local news led us to believe sometime last week. My maths is normally bad but not that bad :glare:

Some people just don't care about the consequences as there are generally no repurcussions of their actions. I know the lads here that fly the Sea King would beg to differ. Although I'm sure they would just want to do their mandatory flying to keep themselves current and not have to be called out....needs must and all that though.

Whatever they decide to go with I am sure they will have meeting upon meeting about it and they will be no further forward with people still getting stuck. The only way to stop people doing it is to have some sort of EMP when the tide is coming in to disable the engine. Least that would work.....

"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe."

- Albert Einstein

Keith Scantlebury

Keith Scantlebury

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Apologies Keith, I missed a '0' from that total. This is the amount that the local news led us to believe sometime last week. My maths is normally bad but not that bad :glare:

Some people just don't care about the consequences as there are generally no repurcussions of their actions. I know the lads here that fly the Sea King would beg to differ. Although I'm sure they would just want to do their mandatory flying to keep themselves current and not have to be called out....needs must and all that though.

Whatever they decide to go with I am sure they will have meeting upon meeting about it and they will be no further forward with people still getting stuck. The only way to stop people doing it is to have some sort of EMP when the tide is coming in to disable the engine. Least that would work.....

Suppose the most extreme thing to do would be to build a bridge, now that would cause a furore, imagine the cost.

Brett

Brett

Posted
Posted

Alternatively, destroy the causeway and only let people cross via raft when the tide is in. And they have to pull themselves along by rope on said raft. Residents would probably appreciate the peace and quiet of chopper blades and engines.

Have some raising bollards that are raised when the water level reaches a certain height on the causeway. Would have the same effect as barriers but would be hidden when not in use.

  • 1 month later...
Keith Scantlebury

Keith Scantlebury

Posted
  • Author
Posted

And still it goes on, when will people learn that the signs are there for a reason. These latest bufoons are British with a nice posh Mercedes estate car which they thought could somehow drive through the North Sea more than an hour after the safe crossing time. I have absolutely no sympathy at all for them.

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