HARD TO KNOW
What is a hard shoulder and is it illegal to drive down it?
Plus, the do's and don'ts for using the hard shoulder
MOTORWAYS can be nerve-wracking at the best of times, never mind when your car breaks down and you need to pull over.
Should you need to, here's everything you need to know about using the hard shoulder.
1
Is it illegal to drive down the hard shoulder?
The Highway Code states that: "You must not use a hard shoulder except in an emergency or if directed to do so by police, traffic officers or a traffic sign."
This means that if you are planning to beat the early morning traffic by driving down the hard shoulder, you would be breaking the law.
The hard shoulder should only be used when absolutely necessary and shouldn't be used under normal driving circumstances.
Despite the fact that some drivers use the hard shoulder when letting other motorists overtake, or even for a quick pit stop, this is not permitted.
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Getting caught using the hard shoulder incorrectly could see you hit with a £100 fine and three points on your licence.
What is the hard shoulder used for?
The hard shoulder is a hardened strip of land used for any broken down vehicles to use safely as refuge away from the flow of traffic.
Emergency vehicles can also use the lane to bypass traffic and get to the scene of an accident.
Motorists may also need to use the hard shoulder when roadworks instruct them do so.
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This is completely legal, however when the roadworks finish you'll need to move back to the driving lane.
The do's and don'ts for using the hard shoulder
DO
- Pull over safely on the hard shoulder in an emergency, such as a breakdown or medical episode
- Turn on hazard warning lights and side lights to alert other drivers
- Use left-hand doors if you need to exit the vehicle
- Keep your children and pets inside the car
- Proceed with extreme caution if you need to use the emergency phone on the hard shoulder
DON'T
- Don't use the hard shoulder to get ahead of traffic and skip queues
- Don't stop on the hard shoulder to go to the toilet or use your mobile
- Don't pull over on the hard shoulder if passengers have travel sickness or you need to rest
Can I stop on the hard shoulder?
Stopping on the hard shoulder when not in an emergency is likely to get you in trouble with the police.
This includes stopping to answer the phone, going to the toilet or taking a break because you're tired.
Stopping on the hard shoulder can be extremely dangerous to you and other motorway drivers.
According to Highways England, over 100 people are killed or injured on hard shoulders every year. So using it should always be last resort.
If you do need to use the hard shoulder in an emergency, the recommends that you park to the far left of the road, and put your hazard lights and sidelights on to warn other drivers that your car is stationary.
They also advise occupants of the car to get out using the left-hand side doors before waiting behind the barrier.
The rules of the road are constantly changing as we previously reported here on our article about The Highway Code.
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- How to change the address on your driving licence
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