Regardless of years of highway security campaigns, a regarding variety of drivers are nonetheless getting the fundamentals fallacious in terms of coping with breakdowns, particularly on fast-moving roads.
One notably alarming discovering from a current survey is that 1 in 10 drivers (13%) would place a warning triangle instantly subsequent to their broken-down car on a motorway—an motion explicitly suggested towards because of the excessive hazard of stepping right into a stay visitors lane.
Whereas warning triangles will be helpful on quieter roads, they don’t have any place on motorways or good motorways, the place the dangers far outweigh the advantages. Entering into shifting visitors, even to position a triangle 45 metres behind a car as suggested for different roads, is rarely secure in these environments. And but, 41% of drivers on common motorways and 31% on good motorways nonetheless say they’d try it.
Motorways: Good vs. Conventional – A Worrying Divide
The statistics reveal a transparent distinction in driver behaviour relying on the kind of motorway. Whereas 92% of drivers stated they’d activate hazard warning lights on an everyday motorway in the event that they broke down, that determine drops to 85% on a wise motorway. That 7% hole may appear small, nevertheless it’s vital once we keep in mind that many good motorway breakdowns happen in stay lanes, the place each second counts.
Equally, 92% of drivers would name their breakdown supplier if stranded on an everyday motorway—however solely 82% would do the identical on a wise motorway. Why this hesitation exists is unclear, however the penalties will be extreme. In any motorway breakdown, alerting emergency providers or a breakdown supplier rapidly may help activate lane closures and scale back the danger of collisions.
Different responses observe the identical pattern. Whereas 88% of drivers would transfer onto the onerous shoulder if attainable on an everyday motorway, simply 47% stated they’d attempt to discover a refuge or comparable on a wise motorway. And 83% would exit the car on a standard motorway in comparison with 76% on a wise one.
The steerage stays clear: on any motorway, whether it is secure to take action, drivers ought to exit the car utilizing the aspect furthest from visitors, transfer behind a barrier, and wait upstream of their automobile.
Twin Carriageways: Higher Consciousness, however Nonetheless Room to Enhance
In terms of twin carriageways, 93% of drivers say their first motion could be to name for breakdown help. That’s encouraging. An extra 89% would swap on hazard warning lights, serving to to alert different drivers. However that also leaves 11% who may not make themselves seen.
Three-quarters of drivers would goal to tug over rapidly, which is crucial for security, however 1 / 4 stay not sure or unaware of this key step.
Nation Roads: A Combined Image
On rural roads, most drivers once more put calling for help first (95%), adopted by activating hazard lights (90%). Curiously, 38% stated they’d use a warning triangle—acceptable right here underneath the best circumstances. However 18% of these would wrongly place it subsequent to their automobile, defeating its function and placing themselves in danger.
Solely 20% stated they’d place the triangle the right 45 metres behind the car.
Automotive Parks: Extra Warning, Much less Urgency
Breakdowns in automobile parks could not appear as pressing, however visibility and entry are nonetheless vital. Right here, 97% of drivers would name their breakdown supplier. Curiously, 61% would stay of their car, and solely 26% would activate hazard warning lights—probably leaving their car tougher to find or establish as damaged down. Simply 17% would concentrate on pulling over rapidly, regardless of this being vital to keep away from blocking different autos or entry routes.
Conclusion: A Name for Higher Schooling
The information tells a compelling story—UK drivers typically know what to do, however confusion nonetheless exists, particularly round newer highway methods like good motorways. Misconceptions round warning triangles, an absence of urgency on sure roads, and differing responses based mostly on highway sort all level to the identical want: higher, clearer driver training round what to do in a breakdown.
Driving instructors play a significant position in reinforcing this data, notably with learners and new drivers. It’s price revisiting these breakdown fundamentals in classes, as the best actions in these important early moments could make all of the distinction.
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