Stopping on the hard shoulder

[tigwig]

I was driving down the motorway today with my daughter in the back when I just happened to think about being pulled over by the Police! Not that I was doing anything wrong but I thought if I was speeding or something and the Police were flashing at me to stop I wouldn't want to risk stopping on the hard shoulder especially with my daughter in the car. All too often you hear about idiots that plough into the back of cars like this and it is not something I would like to risk. If that ever happened could you just keep on driving and stop safetly after coming off at the next exit?

[richierich07]

i think if its just a bog standard stop then the cop will prob wait till your off the motorway

if your a risk , eg driving that could course a crash or a danger then he will pull you over

[dustypuss]

the police in this country all ways stop behind a car using there blue flashing lights thus minimise any risk to member of the public

if you do not stop when requested then you run the risk of been prosecuted ( failing to stop )

DTH

[Golf38]

As the last post. Police will always stop behind you (except for large trucks), and position the vehicle in such away that it would take the brunt of any rear impact.

You're probably safter being stopped on the hard shoulder of the motorway than at the side of an a road (ie in the running lane).

Not stopping would not be advised for reasons outlined above -if its not safe to stop the police won't make the request to stop but will follow until it is.

[MAD BUTCHER]

Is this a serious question? Sounds like a ******** to me.

[tigwig]

yes it is a serious question MADBUTCHER I am not a ********
It might sound daft but it was just a thought going through my mind at the time!

thanks for the other answers

[funnygirl]

I understand your concern, but should drivers be driving on the hard shoulder??

I don't use the motorways much and am shocked when I hear of these kind of accidents.

[Golf38]

I think the concern is for people who are driving in lane one but stray into the hard shoulder owing to:

-using the phone
- falling asleep
- changing the radio
- drunk
- talking to rear seat passengers and turning round!

and the like!!!!

[Toureman]

Motorway statistics show that most accidents/fatalities happen on the hard shoulder, so it is a dangerous place to stop.

If the police stop you immediately get out and walk up the embankment.

[tigwig]

yes I would but even in the time to get out acknowledge the police then get my daughter out too it could be too late.

[MAD BUTCHER]

Its a stupid question because motorways often have long distances between convenient places to turn off. Ask anyone who has ever missed their turning. To suggest that the police would follow you for miles until it suited YOU to stop is more than a little ridiculous.

[MAD BUTCHER]

P.S. If tigwit is is so petrified of having to stop on the hard shoulder, sh she be driving at all?

[tigwig]

I am not petrified of driving at all, not in cities or on the motorway and never have been. It was just a thought that went through my mind thats all. I do apologise!
PS its tigwig not tigwit

[Golf38]

Toureman - thats because they are motorway statistics. More people die off the motorway than on it.

Granted though, the hard shoulder is not a nice place to be

[TWR]

Just to cap the Question, You EXIT your car from the Near Side Door when broken down on a Motorway. (Passenger Side) this stops the risk of getting your door taken off or yourself getting sucked out by a HGV Think i am joking??36Yrs + on HGVs tell me different. ( SEEN IT HAPPEN)

[tigwig]

no I don't think you are joking thats why I asked the question. I would not be happy about having to stop on the hard shoulder at all and imagine me sitting in the police car and my daughter in the back of my car then bang a lorry hits the car and she is dead. God that makes me sound like a right drama queen doesn't it ?!

[TWR]

Hi tigwig, You are right to ask this question and a very Important question at that, a lot of people are under the impression regards the Hard shoulder, It is there for an emergency ONLY, not for picnics, to use their phone, or to read a map, whem in an EMERGENCY you should pull WELL INTO THE LANE as far as you can possibily go to your left & if poss, get on the grass, Hazard on, It is not a legal requierment regards the Warning Triangle but If you feel better, USE IT. But always look to your rear after placing the Triangle in place, If the weather is fine get as near the fence or over it if you can, I have seen people with flat tyres right on the edge of the shoulder, that in turn can cause a lorry at the last moment swerve to avoid you thus causing a pile up just because some Bloody CLOWN has not used his/her head, Someone said there are more deaths on a motorway than any other road, the Motorways are the safest roads in the UK, It is the people on the motorways that cause the pile ups, as regards deaths, yes the most deaths on Motorways are on the hard shoulder, I have followed HGVs dropping off to sleep ( FACT) I have seen HGV pushed on the hard shoulder by some idiot looking at a map in their car (FACT) Ihave also seen a car have a REAR WHEEL BLOW OUT in the 3rd lane crossed the motorway through the hedge and end up in the service area (Hilton Park M6 Southbound, The police are not stupid neither will they pull you for something stupid, they will pick a safe location to Flash you then stop you leaving their patrol car a distance behind you, But on saying that I have seen them smacked a few times by H.G.V. to end this sermon on safety, when on a Motorway, Try and look as far as possible in front of your car, look for Hazard lights coming on, look out for HGVs from abroad, A clue, the writing on the back of the lorry, the Number Plates, these drivers cannot see your car if you are in their blind spot (Along side their passenger door, DANGER SIDE.

[tigwig]

thanks.