Regardless of years of highway security campaigns, a regarding variety of drivers are nonetheless getting the fundamentals mistaken with regards to coping with breakdowns, particularly on fast-moving roads.Â
One significantly alarming discovering from a current survey is that 1 in 10 drivers (13%) would place a warning triangle immediately subsequent to their broken-down car on a motorway—an motion explicitly suggested in opposition to as a result of excessive hazard of stepping right into a reside site visitors lane.
Whereas warning triangles might be helpful on quieter roads, they don’t have any place on motorways or sensible motorways, the place the dangers far outweigh the advantages. Entering into transferring site visitors, even to position a triangle 45 metres behind a car as suggested for different roads, isn’t secure in these environments. And but, 41% of drivers on common motorways and 31% on sensible motorways nonetheless say they’d try it.
Motorways: Sensible vs. Conventional – A Worrying Divide
The statistics reveal a transparent distinction in driver behaviour relying on the kind of motorway. Whereas 92% of drivers mentioned they’d activate hazard warning lights on a daily motorway in the event that they broke down, that determine drops to 85% on a wise motorway. That 7% hole may appear small, but it surely’s important after we keep in mind that many sensible motorway breakdowns happen in reside lanes, the place each second counts.
Equally, 92% of drivers would name their breakdown supplier if stranded on a daily motorway—however solely 82% would do the identical on a wise motorway. Why this hesitation exists is unclear, however the penalties might be extreme. In any motorway breakdown, alerting emergency providers or a breakdown supplier shortly might help activate lane closures and cut back the danger of collisions.
Different responses comply with the identical pattern. Whereas 88% of drivers would transfer onto the exhausting shoulder if potential on a daily motorway, simply 47% mentioned they’d attempt to discover a refuge or comparable on a wise motorway. And 83% would exit the car on a conventional 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 site visitors, transfer behind a barrier, and wait upstream of their automotive.
Twin Carriageways: Higher Consciousness, however Nonetheless Room to Enhance
On the subject of twin carriageways, 93% of drivers say their first motion can be to name for breakdown help. That’s encouraging. An additional 89% would change 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 shortly, which is important for security, however 1 / 4 stay uncertain 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% mentioned they’d use a warning triangle—acceptable right here underneath the suitable circumstances. However 18% of these would wrongly place it subsequent to their automotive, defeating its goal and placing themselves in danger.
Solely 20% mentioned they’d place the triangle the proper 45 metres behind the car.
Automotive Parks: Extra Warning, Much less Urgency
Breakdowns in automotive parks might not appear as pressing, however visibility and entry are nonetheless necessary. 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—doubtlessly leaving their car tougher to find or determine as damaged down. Simply 17% would give attention to pulling over shortly, regardless of this being necessary to keep away from blocking different autos or entry routes.
Conclusion: A Name for Higher Training
The info tells a compelling story—UK drivers usually know what to do, however confusion nonetheless exists, particularly round newer highway techniques like sensible motorways. Misconceptions round warning triangles, a scarcity of urgency on sure roads, and differing responses based mostly on highway kind all level to the identical want: higher, clearer driver training round what to do in a breakdown.
Driving instructors play an important position in reinforcing this information, significantly with learners and new drivers. It’s value revisiting these breakdown fundamentals in classes, as the suitable actions in these important early moments could make all of the distinction.
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