Do we have anything this uncivilised in the UK?

[Dave2002]

Tow truck wars - I can barely believe this - https://getpocket.com/explore/item/t...-left-for-dead

I knew that parts of the US are crazy, but I didn't know about this kind of thing.

[Serial_Apologist]

Tow truck wars - I can barely believe this - https://getpocket.com/explore/item/t...-left-for-dead

I knew that parts of the US are crazy, but I didn't know about this kind of thing.

What may seem especially shocking to us over here, is that the man who shot him gets off because confronting and dealing with someone brandishing a "bat" by shooting them is considered OK, which I don't think it would be here. But America operates in its everday life on taking the capitalistic principle of "survival of the fittest" to its most logical conclusion.

It took me some tme to work out that "towers" are people who tow!

[oddoneout]

It took me some tme to work out that "towers" are people who tow!

I still struggle with sewers being people who sew, and that denier is also these days a person rather than a measurement - in my head it always gets pronounced incorrectly for the context.

[gradus]

Rowers, people who argue excessively.

[kernelbogey]

Posters.... never mind.

[Serial_Apologist]

Butch people!

[LezLee]

Americans always refer to coworkers. It was a while before I realised they meant co-workers.

[oddoneout]

Sorry Dave, you asked a serious question that has rather got lost - and I am guilty of contributing to the irrelevance. I think(hope!) we've got a way to go before reaching that stage, not least because I don't imagine that a gun is considered an essential part of the recovery vehicle tool kit... The other thing that occurred to me is that in this country it is common to have cover for breakdowns, so it is more usual to have a named brand such as AA etc attending a member incident rather than an individual calling an independent firm direct, although independent firms may have a contract with the named brand and attend for a vehicle recovery as required. I don't know whether the same thing is as widespread in the US?

[Dave2002]

Sorry Dave, you asked a serious question that has rather got lost - and I am guilty of contributing to the irrelevance. I think(hope!) we've got a way to go before reaching that stage, not least because I don't imagine that a gun is considered an essential part of the recovery vehicle tool kit... The other thing that occurred to me is that in this country it is common to have cover for breakdowns, so it is more usual to have a named brand such as AA etc attending a member incident rather than an individual calling an independent firm direct, although independent firms may have a contract with the named brand and attend for a vehicle recovery as required. I don't know whether the same thing is as widespread in the US?

Sorry guys - I think some of you missed a point. I didn't realise that in the US that breakdown trucks work like ambulance chasers - also I think a US phenomenon. The idea that there are roving tow trucks and that the drivers have a "right" to the tow strikes me as really odd.

I don't think that kind of thing happens in the UK. Presumably in a serious crash incident here the police, and possibly ambulance and fire crew would be called out, and they would then decide what happens to the crashed vehicle(s) after evidence and witness statements had been collected. How do the vehicles get taken away afterwards? I would assume by some form of organised contract between the law enforcement services and recovery firms, or in some cases this would be delegated back to the drivers/owners, who would arrange collection and removal.

If the crash were a minor crash, and the emergency services were not involved, or if the car had simply broken down, I would expect the driver or owner to arrange for removal - often via an annual emergency cover insurance, and he or she would decide which recovery firm to use.

There are "low life" organisations in the UK which get involved with some incidents, but mostly the notion that there are predatory "firms" operating with agents equipped with baseball bats, guns, knives etc. - "no, no, no" - not here - AFAIK.

[cat]

Here in the UK we have ice cream van turf wars instead. And not just the notorious one in Glasgow in the 80s where drugs were involved.

e.g. https://www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk/n...ream-turf-wars

[Serial_Apologist]

Here in the UK we have ice cream van turf wars instead. And not just the notorious one in Glasgow in the 80s where drugs were involved.

e.g. https://www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk/n...ream-turf-wars

And registered London cabbies versus minicar taxis, though in my limited knowledge these usually get knocked on the head before they escalate into outright warfare.

[Dave2002]

And registered London cabbies versus minicar taxis, though in my limited knowledge these usually get knocked on the head before they escalate into outright warfare.

I suspect that being knocked on the head isn't much fun, either!

Maybe I don't know the "rules" in the USA, but the notion that there is a "right" to pick up crashed vehicles is something which I don't think we have in the UK. There are rules like that regarding maritime disasters, though I can't remember exactly how that works, but I don't think we have allocated rights to privateers who prowl around looking for opportunities, and are prepared to challenge others doing similar actions.