General Driving Policy Statements - May 2005
Labelling of Medicines
Medicines - both prescription and over-the-counter, (whether taken alone, in combination or with alcohol) which are likely to have adverse side-effects on road users must be clearly labelled and the effects highlighted by doctors and pharmacists.
Stopping on the Hard Shoulder
Stationary vehicles on the hard shoulder have been shown to be at high risk of accident involvement. In the event of an unavoidable stop on the motorway, where possible evacuate all passengers onto the embankment or cutting until assistance arrives. Children should be closely supervised. Pets should remain in the car. Lone female drivers who feel threatened should leave the front passenger door open and re-enter the car if another vehicle stops. All doors should be locked and conversation held through a narrowly opened window until the threat is passed. The risk of an accident on the hard shoulder is far greater than that of an attack. Always use the motorway emergency phones even if a mobile phone is available. The police need to be aware of all stopped vehicles on the hard shoulder and emergency phones aid quick location of breakdowns.
Footway Parking
Parking and/or driving vehicles on the pavement causes inconvenience and danger to pedestrians. Vehicles obstructing the pavement sometimes force pedestrians to walk on the road, particularly parents who are pushing prams or pushchairs and wheelchair users. Frequent driving and parking on the pavement is also likely to cause damage to the pavement surface which in turn has the potential to cause pedestrians to trip, fall and injure themselves.
A shortage of off-street parking facilities is not an excuse for placing the free flow of traffic or the convenience of the offending driver above the safety of pedestrians.
Warning Devices
The use of warning devices (reflective triangles, cones or flashing amber lights) designed to be placed behind a broken down vehicle is a requirement in many countries, and cars are often sold with a warning device included. Some companies supply these devices to their drivers as one way of fulfilling their duty of care to their employees.
The Highway Code advises drivers whose vehicle is causing an obstruction and who carry such a device, to place it "on the road at least 50 metres (164 feet) before the obstruction". However, the provision and use of warning devices is not mandatory in the UK. Nor is there any research concerning their effectiveness.
Broken down vehicles may be difficult to see, especially on rural roads where sightlines are often restricted and the vehicle may be hidden behind a bend in the road. In this situation, an advance warning of the hazard may well be useful.
Nevertheless, RoSPA is concerned that a person placing, or retrieving, a warning device behind a stationary vehicle would be at risk of being hit by a passing vehicle, especially at night or in poor visibility.
When a vehicle breaks down or is otherwise unable to move, the driver should switch on the vehicle’s hazard indicator lights. It is advisable to keep a high visibility jacket, tabard or waistcoat in the vehicle so that it may be worn if necessary. If possible, the vehicle should be moved off the highway. Rules 248 to 252 of the Highway Code should be followed.
Insurance Policies for "Banned" Drivers
RoSPA strongly condemns any insurance products that seek to compensate or provide alternative transport for convicted/banned drivers.
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