With the main holiday season well underway and four more weeks of the high season still to come, lorry drivers are at risk from the actions of irresponsible car drivers and the dangers they pose by stopping on the ‘hard shoulder’.
Figures recently released show that on average, 836 people in the UK have been killed or injured each year since the year 2000, in incidents that have occurred on hard shoulders and road side lay-bys.
As millions of drivers and their families continue to head out on to the roads for the summer it has been revealed that more than one in four motorists have potentially endangered their lives by stopping on the hard shoulder in a non-emergency.
Andrew Drewary, Director of First Legal Support, a specialist outsourced accident investigation company says: “Although the hard shoulder is supposed to be a safe haven in the event of an emergency only, the recent figures released clearly show the total disregard and misuse for such an important section of the motorways around the country. Amazingly, the people who have misused the hard shoulder appear to be unaware that their actions have serious and often deadly consequences.”
As a result of the figures released, motorists are being reminded of the dangers of stopping on the hard shoulder of motorways. Unfortunately, it is the lorry driver and their vehicle that is most likely to be involved in an incident with a vehicle that should not have come to an unscheduled stop.
The figures released showed that of the 20,000 plus people questioned, there were a variety of reasons why people felt they need to stop on the hard shoulder for a non-emergency. The most common reasons were due to illness, the need for a toilet break closely followed by their vehicle running out of fuel. The less popular reasons were to have a quick nap, to read a map, to make a non-emergency phone call and a problem with a pet or animal carried in a car or trailer.
However, probably one of the most bizarre and undoubtedly the most dangerous and stupid reason for a non-emergency stop was to take photographs of the driver’s family sitting in their new car. All because the sun was shining and they had the ‘soft top roof’ of their convertible down.
Drewary continues: “The most common reasons highlighted in the report show how unprepared drivers are when they take their car on the motorway. There are so many motorway service stations at regular intervals there is absolutely no need to stop on the hard shoulder unless in an emergency. However, to stop to take photographs of your family in your new car is absolutely incomprehensible.”
Rule 270 of the Highway Code states that you must not stop on the carriageway, hard shoulder, slip road, central reservation or verge except in an emergency, or when told to do by the police, Highways Agency traffic officers in uniform, an emergency sign or by flashing red light signals. Inappropriate use of the hard shoulder is an offence under motorway traffic regulations and incurs up to a £60 fine and three penalty points.
Only those who stop for a non-emergency will feel that they can justify their reasons for doing so. However, no matter how hard they try they will never be able to convince those who use the roads properly. Of those questioned, men are the most likely to stop on the hard shoulder for a non-emergency despite
Drewary concludes: “Although it is supposed to be a safe place, the hard shoulder can be a very dangerous place indeed. Lorries are the most common to use the inside lane and thunder passed just feet away from any stationary vehicle. People just do not appreciate the risks involved in stopping on the hard shoulder.”
If a genuine emergency occurs it is important to remember that safety is paramount. Exit the vehicle on the left, get far away from your vehicle and behind the safety barrier (if one is present) and then call for assistance. It is just not safe to remain in the vehicle and never attempt even the simplest of repairs to the vehicle or place a warning triangle on the hard shoulder.
So lorry drivers need to be aware of any vehicle stopped on the hard shoulder and allow a little more room or move to the middle lane if possible. You do not know what might happen next!
If you would like to know more about First Legal Support and the services they offer do not hesitate to contact Andrew Drewary on 07817 043821 or email andrewd@firstlegalsupport.co.uk
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