I was interested to read the article about 4x4s in the snow by Erin Baker. It really amazed me that the various public authorities were not organised enough to request volunteers to use their own 4 wheel drive vehicles to ferry care workers, nurses, meals on wheels etc. to and from the people requiring these essential services. Any necessary insurance cover required could surely have been arranged by the service providers and contact points broadcast on the local radio stations, so that the owners of 4x4's could phone if they were able to offer their help. Many of us did shopping runs for relatives and friends who were unable to reach the local supermarkets and then towed various stranded motorists/van drivers to more useable main roads, which allowed them to continue their journeys and carry on with their work.... I cannot help feeling that it is probably the 'over protected' Britain, that we currently live in, that stifles any such 'help' initiative in public sector management thinking and there is bound to be a rule somewhere that says 'it is not allowed'.