Snow plough ploughed straight into a garden

Being in a vehicle that’s a bit larger and weightier than most cars – especially with the tools at the back – I’ve always felt that as a van driver I have to be even more careful than other road users in icy or snowy weather.

However, one snow plough driver didn’t manage to manoeuvre the roads as carefully as he should have while on the job in Balloch, Scotland.

While trying to make the tarmac safer for other motorist, the snow plough slid down a hill and careered into a woman’s front garden and her neighbour’s car.

The lady explained, “I heard a loud bang, and thought, this sounds close. I looked out of the window and there was a snow plough sitting in my garden. It had bashed into my next door neighbour’s car, then through the dividing fence and completely taken out the top half of my garden.

“I could see two shocked men in the plough. They opened the doors, and the driver got out and fell on the ice before they came over.

“It was just me in the house, but they did their best to help and gave me a number to call, reversed the plough and left.”

Luckily the men seem to have been apologetic, and representatives of the Highland Council have since visited the woman’s home to tell her that they will rebuild her garden, however the fate of the damaged car has not been reported on.  

Photo © Will Merydith via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence

Locking the van up for the night

A recent study by a vehicle insurance company has found that the average family has £3,400 worth of junk in their garage – meaning that two thirds of them can’t fit their car (usually worth about £13,487) inside it.

Furthermore, apparently it’s the men who are to blame, filling the garage with old tools and half-finished projects they promise their partners they’ll come back to eventually.

I’m quite surprised really, but then I keep most of my tools and half-finished projects in my Transit, so there’s plenty of room in the garage for my van.

If someone broke into my van I’d probably lose a lot of important and costly items I use day in day out on the job, so it makes no sense for me to leave my van outside and lots of useless bits and pieces safe behind a locked door.

And I’m not the only one who’s worried about vehicle crime, reportedly 41% of those surveyed said that they were concerned that their car or van would be broken into, stolen or vandalised. Well, I’ve got the answer to their problems.

If you’ve got a garage, stop hording those rusty tools and that partly-built coffee table you promised your wife and make space for what’s meant to be in there – your vehicle.

And the director of marketing at the insurance company agrees with me, it seems.

She stated, "We understand that householders are busy, but if they gave their garage a bit of a clear out once in a while and parked one or more of their cars in it, they would have the peace of mind that one of their most valuable possessions is being fully protected, and they are likely to save on their car [and van] insurance too."

Photo © Elsie esq. via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence