Motoring experts call for 'life-saving' updates to Highway Code
The AA says the advice for broken-down drivers using motorways is out of date, and doesn’t take into account the increased use of smart motorways where there is no hard shoulder
The AA is urging the government to make “potentially life-saving” changes to the Highway Code to reflect the more widespread use of smart motorways.
In a letter to roads Minister Jesse Norman, the organisation said that the code only provided advice for breakdowns on motorways with a continuous hard shoulder.
It said that with more than 500 miles of smart motorways already live, the code needs “to advise drivers what to do in the event of a breakdown where stopping on the hard shoulder isn’t an option”.
The suggested changes include a rule requiring drivers to create an “emergency corridor” in stationary traffic to allow emergency services to get to motorway incidents, as well as a new “slow down and move over” rule when passing broken-down vehicles on the motorway.
Edmund King, AA president, said: “Eight out of 10 drivers say that motorways are more dangerous now compared to four years ago simply because of the removal of the hard shoulder.
“More than a decade on since the introduction of smart motorways, we see these changes to the Highway Code as a necessary step to try to help save lives and improve safety and driver confidence when people use motorways.
“From next year, new drivers will be allowed to take lessons on motorways. We believe these changes would help them understand the different types of motorway they could come across before they even drive on them.
“Safety is of paramount importance on all of our roads, and we look forward to the minister taking these important points on board to enhance road safety.”
Brake, the road safety charity, backed the AA’s calls for the Highway Code to be updated.
Josh Harris, director of campaigns for the charity, said: “In 2016, 93 people were killed and 803 seriously injured on UK motorways. Every road death and serious injury is a tragedy, affecting the lives of families across the UK.
“Improving the Highway Code would be a welcome step towards safer roads. However, the government must do more, increasing investment in our road infrastructure and mandating life-saving vehicle technologies.”
The Department for Transport did not provide a comment, but said that Norman would be responding in due course.
