Breaking down on the hard shoulder.

[Le Chat]

Why are people advised to always get out of their car if they break down and pull up on the hard shoulder of a motorway? As a driver, I have never been irresistably drawn to coming out of my lane in order to smash into the back of a stationary car? Is this what happens, do some drivers have this unexplained urge, or is it that some have no spatial awareness and think that the stationary car is in the right lane and they are not, so they move onto the hard shoulder and crash into it?

[NORMANTHEDOG]

a lot of crashes on the motorway are caused by drivers falling asleep,tyres bursting,all sorts of things

[Toureman]

More crashes occur on the hard shoulder than on any of the lanes on a motorway, it is the most dangerous place to be!

That is why you are advised to get out of your car and get over the barrier.

http://www.conti-online.com/generator/www/uk/e n/continental/transport/general/safety/hardsho ulder_en.html

[sddsddean]

Further to Toureman's answer, a lot of hard shoulders are narrower than the running lanes, so you are that much closer to the traffic, which being lane 1 is likely to be a lot bigger than you! Trust me, there is not a lot of car left if a 44 tonne artic hits it. It is just not worth the risk. Get out and also wait a little way down the road towards the traffic, then if your vehicle does get hit, you shouldn't get hit by any flying debris.

[stanleyman]

One tip worth remembering is that if your car breaks down in a difficult or dangerous place, you can usually move it by operating the starter in first gear.

[Grunty]

I would not dream of criticising lorry drivers as a group, because the vast majority are responsible drivers. But there are others who drive along the motorway drinking cups of coffee, talking on mobile phones, even reading newspapers. Some do not take their breaks and fall asleep. If you ever pick up the pieces that have been left by a 40 ton vehicle that has hit a stationary car, you will never sit there in your car again.