"top up - not break down" say Highways Agency Traffic Officers
| Published: 4th May 2007 10:47 |
Bank holiday drivers are being urged to "top up before they travel" because of the high number of vehicles that are running out of fuel on the region's motorways.
Drivers are risking injury or even their lives if they run out of fuel on the motorway, according to the Highways Agency's Traffic Officers who patrol motorways in the West Midlands region. Drivers stopping on the carriageway or even the hard shoulder face the prospect of their vehicle, or themselves, being struck by traffic.
The West Midlands Traffic Officer Service is now dealing with an average of 134 incidents every day. Around two-thirds of the incidents dealt with by the Traffic Officers are breakdowns on the motorway. Some 92 per cent of these breakdowns were on the hard shoulder - with many of these due to drivers simply running out of fuel.
The Traffic Officer Service is urging anyone taking to the region's motorway network to ensure they have enough fuel for their journey.
Anne Jones, Network Operations Manager in the West Midlands RCC (Regional Control Centre), said:
"The hard shoulder can be a dangerous place and breakdowns which are simply down to people running out of fuel are unnecessary and putting lives in danger. People think of the hard shoulder as a place of safety but in fact you are at risk of being struck by another vehicle.
"Drivers should reduce the risk to themselves and their passengers by being fully prepared for the journey they are making. Don't wait for the red light to come on or leave it to guesswork how much fuel you will need.
"Remember that it may not be enough to rely on the digital reading from the car's on-board computer if you have one. The reading is an indicator of the number of miles you can travel, based on average fuel consumption, but when you are getting to low levels of fuel it may not be accurate. Make sure you top up before setting out on a journey, as well as having everything else you need."
Traffic Officers advise anyone breaking down on the hard shoulder to make sure that they put on hazard warning lights and get everyone out of the vehicle. Leave the vehicle using the side furthest away from the moving traffic and stand in a place of safety - over the barrier if it is safe to do so, or on the grass verge.
The Traffic Officer Service in the West Midlands region patrols the motorways in Staffordshire, Shropshire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire and the West Midlands. The aim of the service is to tackle incidents that cause congestion and to improve safety on the motorway and trunk road network.
Traffic Officer patrols stop at hard shoulder breakdowns and offer motorists safety advice; however, they do not carry spare fuel in their vehicles. Drivers are responsible for finding their own fuel if they run out and could face a hefty bill from a recovery agent if they are not current members of a recovery service. Road users are advised to ensure they have adequate breakdown cover and that they are well prepared for their journey such as taking something to eat and drink, a warm coat and reflective clothing to wear in the event of a breakdown.
The Highways Agency advises drivers to plan their journeys in advance and to check the current road conditions before they travel by visiting the website: http://www.highways.gov.uk/trafficinfo or by calling 08700 660 115 for automated live traffic updates 24 hours a day - (calls are charged at 8p per min, mobiles usually cost more).
