Drivers unaware of motorway rules
A recent study has shown that as many as half the number of motorists currently on the road are unaware of the rules regarding hard shoulders.
Insurance company esure used driver trials to assess hard shoulder use and found that congestion conditions merely increased confusion among motorists.
Results of the survey could seriously impact on the amount people spend on car insurance as many drivers in the study were not aware of the safety risks involved in using the hard shoulder.
Of the 1,000 motorists who took part in the poll, 17% thought it was legal to drive on the hard shoulder in heavy traffic, while half were not aware of the illegality of using the hard shoulder except in breakdown cases.
Results also showed that more than a third (36%) of motorists polled said they had used the hard shoulder for stopping to read maps, using a mobile phone, or to go the toilet.
Mike Pickard, head of risk and underwriting at esure, said: "It is very worrying that such a large percentage of UK drivers are unsure of the correct use of the hard shoulder, especially in the run-up to one of the busiest bank holidays.”
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