Man, 77, left stranded at roadside for 17 hours

A motorcyclist said he was left at the side of a road for 17 hours waiting for his bike to be recovered after he called motoring organisation the RAC.

Peter Newton, 77, was travelling from Lympstone, in Devon, to London on 18 March when the engine of his bike started to misfire near the A35 dual carriageway outside Charmouth, Dorset.

He said he had called the RAC and was told his bike had a faulty cylinder head gasket that could not be mended at the side of the road.

He said he had been told to wait for a recovery vehicle which eventually turned up at 04:15 GMT - 17 hours later. The RAC apologised, issued a goodwill payment and said: "Peter didn't receive the service he should have."

Newton said: "I was left waiting by the roadside for 17 hours with no shelter or cover and not near any food or drink.

"Some of the good people of Charmouth, having seen me as they drove by, returned with sandwiches and bottles of water, for which I was very grateful.

"I realise that, in this situation as a single man with no dependant responsibilities, and his vehicle in a relatively safe place, I would never be at the top of a rescue priority list, but leaving a client in the position I found myself for all that time must surely not be part of the RAC's rescue business model.

"Moreover, at 77 years old I am not as robust as I once was, and the coldness of the night in the open was difficult."

Newton said he had eventually made it home at 05:30.

He said: "Had I been informed that there was no possibility of rescue on the day of the breakdown I might have been able to make alternative plans for my motorcycle's recovery.

"The lack of openness from the RAC was problematic in this regard."

The RAC said: "We've apologised and provided a goodwill payment to recognise the inconvenience he experienced, and he remains a valued member."

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