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Two weeks ago we had what could have been a very nasty accident and we also know that it was our own fault. After 20 years of caravanning we really should know better but it just goes to show even experienced caravanners can get it wrong.

Returning from a week at Glencoe we stopped in a layby off the A68 near Edinburgh for a,lunch break. I was busy making sandwiches when my husband, sitting at the front of the caravan said that it was moving! I jumped out but landed badly and hurt my ankle. He followed and somehow managed to wedge himself in the caravan doorway and stop both caravan and car from rolling back onto the busy main road. I couldn't stand so had to crawl to the front of the 'van to pull the handbrake on.

Before everyone tells us how stupid we were, we know. It would seem that the car handbrake failed to hold but we should have had the caravan brake on too.

I went to A&E the next day and have ruptured the achilles tendon which means two months or more in plaster but it could have been so much worse. It seems incredible though to have got off so lightly. One slip by us could have caused not only serious injury or even death to ourselves but also to other road users. I think we can safely say we will never forget to make sure the van can't move again.

Do you know if your handbrake was ever recalled and upgraded by Vauxhall? They had a common fault on several vauxhall designs a few years back where the hand brakes were releasing by themselves without warning. We use Vauxhalls on our fleet at work (I work in the emergency services) and we had most of them in for this to be done and also our own 56 plate Vectra was recalled for the same mod. It is to do with the ratchet design which needed changing. Also Vauxall now state that when engaging the handbrake you should NOT push in the release button as you pull it up but pull it up and let it click through each of the positions on the ratchet, this should ensure it is engaging in each position and prevent it jumping out by accident! I would contact your local dealer and find out if yours was ever done or if it should have been done and hasn't......they can check on the reg / chassis number.

So it might not have been your fault after all

alls well that ends well, apart for your leg damage ,no-one was seriously hurt or worse, lessons were learned

hope you mend quick

Quote: Originally posted by jg73 on 16/10/2011

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Thanks for the info Dazza about Vauxhall handbrakes. We will get the car checked out. We've had it since new and it's never been recalled.

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