Driving Blackout

[macabethiel]

Had a tough day at work this week after having serious conflict with my work mate.We drive about 30K miles a year together he is a good safe driver we get on well.

On Monday morning he phoned in sick having been ill for some weeks with a hacking cough. He phone me in the morning in a bit of a panic he had been to the doctors and on the way home had written his car off running into a garage wall of a near neighbour.
He told me and the Police at the scene that he had blacked out whilst driving round the bend. He had mounted pavement and hit garage causing structual damage with the force of the impact.He declined being taken to Hospital in the Ambulance.

He was dirven into work later in the day by his other half and told me he was not going to mention the blackout as he would loose his job.

I spoke to him later in the day and urged him to tell his line manager about the blackout and that he could have medical treatment to sort the cause and come back to work when sorted. He said I could tell the Boss of I wanted to but he would not. I told him I was not happy with him putting me in the position of grassing him up.

We spoke again later in the afternoon but there was no change of outlook. I was facing the prospect of him coming back to work on Monday as if nothing had happened.

At the end of my shift I saw the manager and told him the facts as I knew them.

I then rang my workmate and told him what I had done. Not a pleasant exchange followed and now its me that feels guilty !

Am I the worst workmate you could have or did I do the right thing. Not slept well since.

 

[briggie]

Had a tough day at work this week after having serious conflict with my work mate.We drive about 30K miles a year together he is a good safe driver we get on well.

On Monday morning he phoned in sick having been ill for some weeks with a hacking cough. He phone me in the morning in a bit of a panic he had been to the doctors and on the way home had written his car off running into a garage wall of a near neighbour.
He told me and the Police at the scene that he had blacked out whilst driving round the bend. He had mounted pavement and hit garage causing structual damage with the force of the impact.He declined being taken to Hospital in the Ambulance.

He was dirven into work later in the day by his other half and told me he was not going to mention the blackout as he would loose his job.

I spoke to him later in the day and urged him to tell his line manager about the blackout and that he could have medical treatment to sort the cause and come back to work when sorted. He said I could tell the Boss of I wanted to but he would not. I told him I was not happy with him putting me in the position of grassing him up.

We spoke again later in the afternoon but there was no change of outlook. I was facing the prospect of him coming back to work on Monday as if nothing had happened.

At the end of my shift I saw the manager and told him the facts as I knew them.

I then rang my workmate and told him what I had done. Not a pleasant exchange followed and now its me that feels guilty !

Am I the worst workmate you could have or did I do the right thing. Not slept well since.

nothing to feel guilty for in my opinion, you could have actually saved his life as well as others

 

[spiderpig37]

you have done the right thing if this guy has blacked out he needs to get it sorted this time he has only damaged property what if the next time it was a person how would he feel then?
i wouldnt loose sleep over it i think you have done him a favour by doing the hard bit for him
cheers Andy

 

[Terranoman]

how would you feel if he crashed and killed someone while at work?

How would your wife feel if he crashed with you in the vehicle and killed you?

You have a responsabilty under H&S at work as well as your mate and should not put others in danger for your own actions.

It is a hard one and hopefully your employer would understand he is not well and encorage him to get well before returning to work.

It is a hard one which hopefully once he carms down will see the difficult position he put you in.

 

[briggie]

if he also told the police at the scene of the accident , i suspect matters would have been taken out of his hands shortly anyway , but i may be wrong ..... you did the right thing mate , friendship is ok , but if it means putting other lives potentially in danger ....... personally i think you are a true friend in the definition of the word by preventing him and others from harm

 

[zippy656]

you did right there,

saved lots of people a lot of heart ach..

well done

 

[lacroupade]

NO QUESTION you did the right thing, for his good, your good and the population at large. Period. Beyond all doubt. Don't even think about beating yourself up about it. If it makes you feel better write him a letter - I am sure he realises the situation he's in. :thumb2:thumb2:thumb2

 

[Sedger]

Absolutely right...

....echo all the points made in this thread. Plus applaud :clap your moral courage in taking the "hard" line. Big up to you.

 

[BongoBerry]

indeed, no question about it. your decision was the right one

 

[macabethiel]

Thanks for your supportive comments

Hi everyone, thank you for your feedback its nice to have such friends when one is feeling low.

 

[R1cho]

1000% the right choice, as others have said what if he had hit a someone or a child, no need to feel bad about it, just think of the lives you have probably saved.

 

[clivvy]

I agree, totally the right decision, so you can rest easy. That guy NEEDS to go to hospital, he needs a scan asap. Imagine if it had been him and you driving a to a job on the motorway, and he blacked out? if anything mate, you have helped him, and im sure in time he will realise this.

 

[tintin]

I'll just echo all of the above replies, 1000% behind you mate, it was the right move to make, the ONLY move to make.:thumb2:thumb2

 

[Deleted account DD]

Hi everyone, thank you for your feedback its nice to have such friends when one is feeling low.

Morals, bottle and decency a good combo :thumb2

Not a grass. You may , amongst other things, have saved his life.

My current boss always says if theres responsibility, pass it on, make it the problem of someone who's paid and qualified to deal with it. Shit heads down the way so somethings got to go up :lol:lol:lol

At the end of the day he was wrong you were right. easy as that

 

[The Patrolman]

Totally agree with everyones comments!

I drive 40K+ a year and very rarely let anyone else drive unless I'm too tired!

It is a very underated task driving!

One small lapse of concentration and you and your passengers and people you do not know will not get home alive to see family or friends ever again!!!!!!

That thought scares the shite out of me every time I get in my little van, has kept my licence clean and me and my passengers well!

I would have refused to let that person drive for my own safety!!

Good for you for standing up...

 

[solarman216]

Cannot say any more than has been said already, but just to add my vote, he has to get it sorted before he drives again, I mean he did not just black out, he has had a serious accident as a result, Rick

 

[ClanWolf]

A real friend will tell you what you NEED to hear. Not what you WANT.

You have done that. If he's as good a mate as you say, he will eventually come round, especially as I detect and element of his missus meddling with his good sense.