When a Danish family’s car broke down in Italy this summer, their roadside assistance provider loaded all five passengers into the broken vehicle strapped onto a flatbed truck. What followed was a drive through mountain traffic that left the family shaken and raised serious questions about safety standards for Danish drivers abroad.
The family was traveling through Italy when their car broke down. They called SOS International, the assistance company contracted through their Danish insurer. A local Italian tow truck arrived. Instead of offering the family seats in the recovery vehicle’s cab or arranging safe transport, the driver instructed all five people, including three children, to climb into their broken car while it sat on the flatbed. Then he drove off.
Under Italian road safety rules, a broken-down vehicle carried on a truck is treated as load. Occupants are expected to leave the vehicle and travel in the recovery truck’s cab, not remain in the car being towed. Article 164 of the Codice della Strada regulates how loads on vehicles must be arranged so they do not fall, reduce the driver’s visibility, or compromise stability. Italian safety guidance emphasizes that passengers, especially children, should not remain inside cars while they are being towed or carried on a truck.
The family did not know this. They sat belted into their dead car, feeling every sway and jolt as the flatbed climbed narrow mountain roads. According to the family’s account reported by TV 2, the father described the experience as terrifying. The children were frightened. There was no communication, no explanation, and no alternative offered.
When Roadside Assistance Outsources Safety
SOS International handles a large number of roadside assistance cases annually across the Nordic region. A significant share occur outside the customer’s home country. To cover Europe, the company relies on networks of local subcontractors in Southern Europe. These partners are paid flat fees per job. They operate under their own national legal framework and commercial incentives.
Danish residents are taking more outbound trips to other EU countries. According to Eurostat data, outbound trips by Danish residents to other EU countries have increased since 2018. More Danes on the road means more breakdowns abroad. It also means more exposure to a fragmented system where Danish contracts, foreign laws, and local practices collide.
The Campsite No One Would Choose
After the mountain drive, the tow truck delivered the family to a campsite. According to the family, the site was not what they had requested. It was far from their planned route. They described it as unsuitable for children.
Danish roadside policies often promise temporary accommodation or transport. But the fine print makes these contingent on what is reasonable and available locally. Some Danish insurers cap accommodation at around 1,000 kroner per day for a few days, and require prior approval. Families traveling with children may reasonably expect clear communication and suitable lodging. The actual legal minimum may be far lower.
No English, No Recourse
Language was another barrier. According to the 2012 Eurobarometer survey on Europeans and their languages, only around 13 percent of Italians report being able to hold a conversation in English. The same survey found around nine in ten Danes speak English. In practice, many Italian tow truck drivers will not speak English. Critical safety decisions must be negotiated through translation apps with drivers who have little incentive to slow down and explain.
The family tried to communicate their concerns. They wanted a different campsite. They wanted clarity about what happened next. The driver did not engage. SOS International’s alarm centre, staffed in Scandinavian languages and English, was available around the clock. But according to TV 2’s reporting, the family did not know to escalate immediately.
Where Danish Rights End
Complaints about roadside assistance abroad are difficult to pursue. The Danish Insurance Complaints Board handles only disputes with Danish insurers. Harm caused by foreign tow partners is governed by foreign law and courts. This creates a practical barrier to redress.
For internationals living in Denmark, the problem is even more complex. According to Statistics Denmark, around 800,000 residents are of foreign origin, roughly one in seven people. There are indications from EU tourism data that some foreign-born residents may rely more on car travel to neighboring EU states, but there is no solid public dataset to confirm this. Yet there is no shared EU level dataset on assistance service failures. Complaint mechanisms are fragmented.
What Families Can Do
Consumer advisers recommend documenting everything immediately after a problematic breakdown. Take photos of how the vehicle was transported. Note the exact time and place. Save all communication. Collect driver details and invoices. This evidence can later support a claim that procedures breached local safety rules.
Families can file a formal complaint to their insurer or assistance provider. If unsatisfied, they may escalate to the Insurance Complaints Board, which is free or low cost and issues decisions that companies usually follow. The European Consumer Centre Denmark can guide on which country’s law applies and whether the European Small Claims Procedure is suitable for claims up to 5,000 euros.
Before traveling, check whether your Danish policy includes extended assistance in Europe. Read FDM country guides, which summarize local breakdown rules for Italy and other destinations. Save the alarm centre number. Call immediately if communication breaks down or feels unsafe. Major automobile clubs in Germany and Austria, including ADAC and ÖAMTC, advise that passengers should not travel in the towed vehicle on public roads and must instead ride in the recovery vehicle. What happened to this family conflicts with common practice in those countries. Without preparation, Danish families will not know that until it is too late.
