January 2009 Car News - GBCarLoans.com

27th January 2009

Hard shoulder running will confuse drivers

A survey undertaken on behalf of Esure car insurance shows that the use of the hard shoulder during busy time on motorways is going to confuse motorists. Over 75% of those questioned said they were concerned about this decision. Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon has approved the use of the hard shoulder, as an extra lane at peak times on sections of the M1, M6, M25 and M62, these are motorways that had previously been considered for widening.

The use of the hard shoulder during busy periods has been dubbed ‘hard shoulder running’. There are three major concerns over this scheme the survey reveiled:

1 - motorists’ are already confused over the use of the hard shoulder, according to the same survey 17% of drivers already think it’s 'legal to use any hard shoulder in heavy traffic. This confusion that already exists reiterartes that 'Hard-shoulder running' periods will have to be carefully signed and policed.

2 - What will happen in an emergency? If regular traffic is as proposed using the hard shoulder on the motorway, there will be no excess capacity for emergency vehicles to use. Emergency services are going to find it increasingly difficult, if not impossible in some circumstances to respond to an emergency call. 85% of survey respondent were concerned that emergency services could be prevented from reaching their destinations.

3 - What is going to happen to vehicles that have broken down? The hard shoulder serves a serious purpose as a place of refuge for broken down vehicles. 37% of motorists surveyed said they have taken advantage of this at some point. At times when there would be no hard shoulder to use should you experience a break-down, then what action should a person take, there would not be anywhere safe to stop immediately in the event of an emergency.
The survey suggests that 89% of motorists said they actually felt safer on the motorway compared to other roads because the hard shoulder was available should they need to use it. Over 50% of drivers questioned said they would not feel confident driving on the motorway with no hard shoulder available. Some said they would go as far as not use the motorway and choose to take there jouney via a different route, even if this meant it would take them longer to make that journey.

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