From The Metro:
Good Samaritans are being warned they risk being sued if they grit icy roads or footpaths left untreated by councils.
The warning came as an MP called for a review of gritting policies following the chaos triggered by recent snowfall.
West Lancashire MP Rosie Cooper said there was concern people gritting roads could be held responsible 'for failing to grit them adequately'.
Wednesday, 4 February 2009
"Good Samaritan gritters may end up in hot water"
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9 comments:
I'm rather more surprised that the council isn't threatening them with littering fines for throwing grit on the pavements and roads
What, liable in the same way councils are? IE not at all? Next time you fall over on some icy pavement try suing the council and see how far you get.
And I'm on the council's side for once. There should be a law that states you cannot sue for anything to do with weather - rain, snow winds etc. They are facts of life and we should learn to deal with the risks appropriately. Perhaps then we might stop being such a bunch of whining cry babies who want to sue someone whenever something bad happens.
I, LOL.
S, that does not compute. Gritting the roads is something that we expect councils to do. If they don't do it, fair enough, "drive slowly, step carefully" works for me.
But private individuals suing other private individuals for not gritting, or for gritting inadequately is complete madness.
What next, you attempt a resuscitation procedure and the subject dies although you did your best. Not done an accredited course? Not qualified?
Law suit in the post.
Why don't we all shoot ourselves and be done with it?
NVM, you can't do that. It's against Elfin Safety, innit?
Hmmm - we should just be allowed to grit when there's ice. Would be a bit more "community" than the current system of council "people" coming along and gritting it for you.
...in the same way as I shoveled snow from the drive-way road (owned by council) so that my family and my neighbours could drive out.... or is that illegal as well? It was good fun in a hard-work, do your bit for the neighbours, instantly visible results sort of way.
A guy I know is a battle surgeon out in Iraq. He tried to salvage a soldier that had taken a bullet through the left ventricle. In splitting the chest (which you have to do at speed) he put a 5mm nick in the heart.
No surprise the soldier died and his family is sueing this guy for contributing/causing the death. The bullet was irrelivant in this case!
MW "private individuals suing other private individuals ...for gritting inadequately ( is complete madness)."
This has always been the case, long before the arrival of the PC crowd. You make yourself responible for the surface if you attempt to clear it and someone slips on the subsequent ice. Madness, agreed.
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