Have you ever suddenly experienced vehicle trouble while driving on a smart motorway where the hard shoulder has been removed to provide an extra lane?

When you’re in a hurry to get somewhere fast, and all-lane running smart motorway seems like an efficient option. There are now 375 miles of smart motorway in England, including 235 miles without a hard shoulder.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) and the Commons Transport Committee are calling for changes to the all-lane running smart motorway policy before more construction continues. They want to see emergency refuges spaced closer to one another than the current standard distance of 1.6 miles apart. Drivers with breakdowns that prevent them from reaching the emergency refuge are forced to stop in a live running lane.

What can be scarier than being broken down and having no way to avoid vehicles speeding at you? “Go left” is the guidance provided by National Highways. If you are experiencing vehicle trouble on a motorway: read more.

The best way to avoid this scenario is to ensure your vehicle is in top operating condition. It’s also important to prepare for a breakdown with essential gear. Here’s how to stay safe:

• Keep up with the vehicle’s preventative maintenance and inspection schedule.
• Monitor the basic operation of your vehicle regularly. If anything seems out of the ordinary, have it checked by a professional.
• Keep an eye on tyre air pressure and wear.
• Spare tyre, jack and lug wrench
• Flashlight with working batteries
• Fire extinguisher
• Flares or reflective device
• Spare fuses
• Jumper cables
• Basic tool kit (pliers, screwdrivers, adjustable wrench, tape, etc.)

We can provide support for breakdowns on smart motorways or anywhere. Our maintenance management and roadside assistance services will help you avoid this danger or stay safe and receive help swiftly if it happens.

Contact us to learn more.