UK Motorways

[climber101]

If you get a puncture on the motorway, can you legally change your own wheel on the hard shoulder.

[Postdog]

No.

Additional rules for the motorway
275
If your vehicle develops a problem, leave the motorway at the next exit or pull into a service area. If you cannot do so, you should

pull on to the hard shoulder and stop as far to the left as possible, with your wheels turned to the left
try to stop near an emergency telephone (situated at approximately one-mile intervals along the hard shoulder)
leave the vehicle by the left-hand door and ensure your passengers do the same. You MUST leave any animals in the vehicle or, in an emergency, keep them under proper control on the verge. Never attempt to place a warning triangle on a motorway
do not put yourself in danger by attempting even simple repairs
ensure that passengers keep away from the carriageway and hard shoulder, and that children are kept under control

[TWR]

With respect Postdog, if you have a punture on the motorway you cannot run to the service area as you are commiting an offence ( I know this from personal experience, 3points for running with a defective tyre, thats how stupid this bloody law is) you are allowed to change a tyre on the motorway hard shoulder but as you state, well to the left.

[Toureman]

Simple answer to your question is yes.

[Panic Button]

It is legal and I would change a nearside tyre, but would call on the RAC for an offside tyre.

I carry a yellow jacket for such eventualities, but wouldn't do an offside wheel without a brightly coloured vehicle with an array of flashing lights on top parked behind.

[R1Geezer]

postdog rightly quotes the highway code, in this case though it is advisory as is most of the highway code and therefore it is quite legal to change your wheel, even if it is dangerous.

[New Judge]

This question will become academic when widespread use of the hard shoulder as an additional lane comes into force:

http://www.theanswerb...g/Question835101.html

Of course, you could try driving with a flat to one of the newly built refuges, but if you don't make it (or get nicked before you do) no doubt it will be a "one off" occurrence which the authorities had not envisaged when devisiing their hare-brained scheme.

[derekpara]

Totally agree with Panic's answer and I think we should all carry Hi- viz vests in our cars nowadays.

[Panic Button]

New Judge, have you actually experienced hard shoulder running?

It works well.

[Buenchico]

As others have indicated, it's perfectly legal to change your own wheel on the hard shoulder of a motorway.

In practice it would be wisest to use the emergency phones to notify the operator of your intention. You would normally find that a police vehicle (or a Highways Agency 'incident support vehicle') would arrive within a few minutes and park behind your vehicle, lit up like Blackpool illuminations!

Chris

[ABerrant]

...although a HA vehicle is not necessarily protection enough.

http://news.bbc.co.uk...anchester/4757692.stm

[magicmerlin]

Hi Vis vests are not recommended for motorway use. You should always use a Hi Vis jacket as they have reflective strips at the wrist.