This-morning as I drove to work, I got stuck in a little queue practically outside my building (pictured). As I came, slowly, around the corner, I saw that this little traffic jam was being caused by a broken down car sitting in our lane. The road has a lane in each direction, and two tram lines running down the middle. There is no room to pull over and park, and naturally, you can’t pull into the tram line. There is a footpath though, and the conditions were snow, melting to leave a wet slippery surface.
As I drove past I noticed that the single occupant was a girl, busy trying to start the car. I figured she had called the TCS (Swiss Automobile Club) by now, but decided to quickly park and come back and check.
It took me about 4 minutes to get back there. I estimate she had already been sitting there at least 5 minutes judging by the queue. The traffic was still lined up behind her. Mostly taping their steering wheels, and for some unknown reason, not pulling out to pass and move on. No-one was helping.
I walked up the middle of the road, opened her door and asked if she had called someone, whilst also waving the traffic to move around, which the all did impatiently. It is rush-hour, so there was a stead flow of people trying to get past. I learned she hadn’t called TCS yet. She was German, so didn’t have membership here either. I suggested we get the car off the road.
The mentality of the average Swiss stuns me. I explained that we should let the car roll backwards and she should turn up onto the footpath (it is a gentle uphill slope here). She did this, as I stopped the traffic by planting myself firmly in front of them, and waving them around. Still no-one helps. The back wheel goes up fine, the front is stuck against the curb. I run to the front of her car and start rocking it trying to get it up on the footpath. My feet are slipping everywhere, and cars continue to drive around us giving me rude looks. Still no-one helps.
I see a strong looking guy walking up the footpath towards us. I actually have to ask him to help, he appears to just want to walk by. He does, but we still don’t get to far. Finally… another guy stopped (possibly seeing the pretty blond girl in need of rescuing, and he helps us. We got the car on the footpath and both of them took off with a quick thanks. Obviously they have ’somewhere to be’… like all Swiss.
I arranged with the girl that we she should join TCS and we put in a call to them. They say they are on their way and then we made small talk, and I left her there to wait.
What leaves me absolutely shocked is that someone can sit in a car in the middle of a busy road and everyone just drives on by. That driver could have been sitting there having a heart attack, but no-one cares enough to take a minute out of their day to check. Come on Switzerland. You have disappointed me on this one!
I went back 20 minutes to later to check if everything was working out. TCS were their reliable selves and had already arrived and diagnosed the problem. The car was started as I watched and she left to follow them to the nearest garage.
Comically, the Opel Corsa had the same problem that my mother-in-laws similarly aged Corsa had before she got rid of it. The clutch sensor had failed. Don’t ask me to explain this problem… it is a bit beyond me.
Conclusion. Don’t buy a bloody Opel. Still love our ever-reliable Renault.
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