What would you have done? (LOL)

From the BBC website:

Couple's car wash drama

A Shropshire couple have a very clean car after they were trapped in a car wash.
Maggie and Alan White's car went through five washes at the Esso Garage, Whitchurch Bypass.

The couple attempted to raise the alarm by honking their car horn.

Mrs White eventually managed to contact the garage to get a member of staff to switch the broken machine off.

The couple, from Calverhall, have been offered £50 compensation which they have accepted along with an apology.

Five cycles

"I was absolutely beside myself," said Mrs White

"Despite using the car horn to try and attract someone's attention nobody came because it was late at night and there was no one in the garage."

"It did the whole car wash, the waxing, washing and the drying and then the whole process again and again for five cycles.

"After being given a wrong number by directory enquiries I finally managed to get the number of the garage.

"The only button to stop the car wash is outside which is absolutely ludicrous."

Mrs White said she could laugh about it now but at the time was terrified.

I don't know if the water would be too hot to risk getting out of the car or not.

Was the car locked in the wash or was there the opportunity to drive through the washer?

My car would probably take ten washes to get clean anyway, so I'd probably thank my lucky stars.

Depending upon the exact type of car wash equipment involved, I'd be more concerned with getting caught up in the moving equipment more so than the hot water (which is a danger no doubt) and/or slipping on wet surfaces. Despite most modern machinery having some sort of safety devices incorporated, there is always the problem of it failing when you need it to work the most. Nice to hear that they got out after five washes.

Regarding driving out, in most automatic washes I've been in, there is a stop/go light and you follow the signals to move or stop as appropriate. I don't recall a lock as such, however, I suspect that there may be some sort of automatic wheel chock that might pop up out of sight when the machinery is infront of the vehichle and could be damaged by the car moving when it should not have.

Perhaps I don't get out enough, I'd have probably just sat there and counted cycles while rooting around in my cars PSK. Can you imagine the owners face finding my car with bright shiny unpainted but nicely waxed metal? Hmmm...it's probably better I was not involved.... <img src="images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Around here there are many car washs that require that someone is outside to start the machine. You´re supposed to drive in, walk out and start. So you wouldn´t be in if something went wrong.
I´d probably try to use my cell phone to contact someone. OTOH I´m a biker so using the car wash isn´t an issue anyway.

real bikers use car washes... <img src="images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> but on the serious note few of the car washes in my neighborhood have a special carrier that you drive in with your front wheels, then you switch your car to neutral and chain pulls you to different stations for brushing, waxing and drying. Anytime you wish, hit the drive or the reverse and you can escape. This will damage the carrier but you won;t be traped. I think one of the reasons for that is to prevent big lawsuits which the US is known for. It will take more than 50 quids to settle such. I can already see it on the front page of the daily paper: "Woman trapped in her car, during car wash, eats her own foot!"

Matt

I ride an enduro. Washing one is like burning books. Going to the car wash might scare my bike <img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />.
People could get trapped without actually being stuck. They suffer a mental blockade when something unusual happens. They could just switch to drive and leave but the thought doesn´t even cross their mind. That´s like people being trapped in escalators during a power outage (I know it´s a joke but it isn´t that far fetched).
BTW: that effect sometimes leads to hilarious situations in real life too.

When Polak mentionned that "real bikers use car wash", I wonder if he meant it for washing the bike or the "real biker" himself ???? <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />


Alain

Just a biker...