Parents dicing with death on the hard shoulder

SHOCKING examples of awful driving on the Midlands' motorways have been revealed - with motorists stopping on the hard shoulder to read a map, set up sat navs, take a sleep or simply have a comfort break.

Highway Agency officers also discovered parents diced with death to feed their children and take photographs of grandchildren because it was a lovely day.

The findings were revealed as the agency and the Central Motorway Police Group launched a campaign to stop drivers misusing the hard shoulder of the M6 and M42.

Among the worst sections monitored was the M42 south between the NEC and the M6 junction where up to 250 vehicles per day use the hard shoulder illegally.

Jamie Hassall, Highways Agency national enforcement co-ordinator, said: "I hope all road users hearing about this will start to correctly use the hard shoulder, follow the overhead signs displayed and drive safely.

"Whether drivers are doing this because they are unaware or deliberately trying to exit the motorway more quickly, they are putting themselves and others at risk.

"Driving on the hard shoulder when it is not available for use could lead to collisions with vehicles who have stopped in an emergency or with the breakdown and emergency services who have stopped there to offer assistance."

Motorists can drive on the hard shoulder to reduce congestion and make journey times easier on these sections at busy times but if someone stops it can be extremely dangerous.

As part of the crackdown, any drivers misusing the hard shoulder will initially receive a letter from the police and the Highways Agency jointly, along with an educational leaflet clearly explaining the correct use of the hard shoulder.

Drivers could also find themselves facing a fine and points on their licence, as driving on the hard shoulder is illegal and unsafe.

From April to June this year more than 400 people were forced to stop on West Midlands motorways because they ran out of fuel.

Survey

In a survey completed by the Highways Agency throughout 2012 they found as well as stopping because of breakdowns and emergencies drivers also used the hard shoulder to:

- Feeding children.

- Taking comfort breaks.

- Rest/sleep on the hard shoulder as drivers sometime feel tired.

- Map reading and setting sat-navs.

- Pick flowers.

- Ringing car insurance companies for quotes to renew.

- Take pictures of a grandchild in an open top sports car on a sunny day.

- A mobile phone operator, stopping at regular intervals in their private car carrying out signal tests on the hard shoulder.

- Be recovered because the washer fluid bottle level warning light has come on and the driver did not want to drive in case they needed to use the washers.

Share This

Regional news »