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Hard Shoulder Causing Confusion for UK Drivers

07 October 2019

As regular navigators of the UK motorways, there is a high possibility that you’ve been on the receiving end of an unexpected traffic jam. For the majority of three and four lane motorways, there will be a hard shoulder present on the side of the road, but it’s not often that this comes into action to assist with easing congestion. Recent studies conducted by Highways England have revealed that the hard shoulder is causing confusion for UK drivers.

A staggering 56% of British motorists (23.1 million people) say they avoid driving on the hard shoulder of a smart motorway even when the signs indicate it is open for traffic. The reasoning for this is due to safety concerns, and drivers are not sure when it is appropriate to use this additional lane or not.

Further analysis has uncovered that 24% of British drivers say that they do not think smart motorways are safe enough and tend to drive on them as if they are a normal motorway. Other factors for the avoidance of the hard shoulder include motorists not liking driving so close to the verge (15%), worried about debris damaging their vehicle (15%) and not having an escape lane to switch across the lanes quickly (14%).

At Marshall Leasing, we understand that the road is an ever-changing surface which can be confusing. That’s why we’re here to serve the industry and provide comprehensive and professional solutions to these issues. We want to assist with the management of your fleet to give you the confidence and peace of mind to do the best possible job for your institution.

To find out how we can assist with of your fleet requirements, please visit our dedicated ‘Driver Risk Assessment & Licence Validation’ section on our website here, or call us directly on 01480 414541.

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