DRIVERS hitting the road this bank holiday weekend are being given some tips – and warned about ‘smart motorways’.
It is predicted there will be 1,000 motorway breakdowns and accidents over the weekend.
And with 15 million cars taking to the roads, smart motorways are likely to turn the hard shoulder into an extra lane for traffic.
Simon Stanney from over 50s insurer, SunLife, is calling for more information about how to use smart motorways to be made available.
He said: “Many drivers in their 50s, 60s and 70s who learned to drive before the introduction of smart motorways may be unaware of the fines, penalties and risk to life of not using these routes properly. The Highways Agency insists that motorists should be able to make their own recovery arrangements on smart motorways, where the hard shoulder is used to increase capacity in busy areas.”
His top tips are:
n Make your own recovery arrangements – check that your car’s breakdown cover is up to date
n Stay safe on the hard shoulder
n Plan your route and your time
n Keep a safe two-second distance between your own car and the car in front. When wet, leave four seconds
n Take a break every two hours – or every 100 miles
n Prepare the car for the journey ahead
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