Regardless of years of street security campaigns, a regarding variety of drivers are nonetheless getting the fundamentals mistaken on the subject of 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 because of the 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 good 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 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 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 sensible motorway. That 7% hole might sound small, but it surely’s important once we keep in mind that many good 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 sensible motorway. Why this hesitation exists is unclear, however the penalties might be extreme. In any motorway breakdown, alerting emergency providers or a breakdown supplier rapidly can assist activate lane closures and cut back the chance of collisions.
Different responses comply with the identical pattern. Whereas 88% of drivers would transfer onto the arduous shoulder if doable on a daily motorway, simply 47% mentioned they’d attempt to discover a refuge or related on a sensible motorway. And 83% would exit the car on a standard motorway in comparison with 76% on a sensible one.
The steerage stays clear: on any motorway, whether it is secure to take action, drivers ought to exit the car utilizing the facet furthest from site visitors, transfer behind a barrier, and wait upstream of their automotive.
Twin Carriageways: Higher Consciousness, however Nonetheless Room to Enhance
In terms of twin carriageways, 93% of drivers say their first motion can be to name for breakdown help. That’s encouraging. An additional 89% would swap on hazard warning lights, serving to to alert different drivers. However that also leaves 11% who won’t make themselves seen.
Three-quarters of drivers would goal to tug over rapidly, 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 proper circumstances. However 18% of these would wrongly place it subsequent to their automotive, defeating its objective and placing themselves in danger.
Solely 20% mentioned they’d place the triangle the proper 45 metres behind the car.
Automobile Parks: Extra Warning, Much less Urgency
Breakdowns in automotive parks might not appear as pressing, however visibility and entry are nonetheless essential. 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 more durable to find or establish as damaged down. Simply 17% would deal with pulling over rapidly, regardless of this being essential 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 street techniques like good motorways. Misconceptions round warning triangles, an absence of urgency on sure roads, and differing responses based mostly on street sort all level to the identical want: higher, clearer driver schooling round what to do in a breakdown.
Driving instructors play a significant function in reinforcing this data, significantly with learners and new drivers. It’s value revisiting these breakdown fundamentals in classes, as the proper actions in these crucial early moments could make all of the distinction.
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