Police have launched photos of a automobile that was wrecked when a van drove into it from behind because it was parked on the roadside having damaged down, and warned drivers of the hazards of stopping in a “dangerous place”.
In a well timed put up on X forward of the vacation journey rush, Essex Police urged drivers to all the time get out of their automobile in the event that they must cease unexpectedly.
The message stated: “ALWAYS GET OUT TO SAFETY IF YOU BREAK DOWN IN A DANGEROUS PLACE.
Politics latest: PM ‘absolutely right on migration’
“Thankfully the motive force of this Focus which broke down in a lit space of the A13 at Stanford Le Hope did simply that earlier than calling 999 while warning approaching visitors.
“Sadly, a van driver wasn’t paying attention and collided into it, propelling both into the bushes,” the power added in a second tweet carrying a picture of the equally wrecked van.
“Thankfully”, it added, “there were no serious injuries and the driver will be dealt with for careless driving.”
It comes because the RAC stated practically 80% of UK drivers would “unknowingly put themselves in danger” after breaking down on the motorway and stopping on the laborious shoulder.
Research by the motoring organisation discovered solely a fifth (22%) of the 1,900 drivers surveyed would do the best factor after breaking down on a motorway on a chilly and moist winter’s evening by standing to the rear of their automobile and so far as doable from visitors, ideally behind a barrier if there was one.
“Frighteningly”, the RAC added, “11% said they would stay in their vehicle, leaving them at great risk of being seriously injured or killed if another vehicle were to hit them”.
Read extra on Sky News:
What occurred to Alex Batty?
Ian Wright quits Match Of The Day
‘Danger to life’ warning over heavy rain
Two-thirds (65%) of drivers would additionally unwittingly put themselves in danger by standing both in entrance of or subsequent to their automobile, the place they might be hit within the occasion of one other driver colliding with their broken-down automobile.
The information displays experiences from practically 200 RAC patrols the place the organisation added, “who found 78% of drivers they have attended who had broken down on motorways were still in their vehicles when they arrived,” the RAC stated on its web site.
Two patrols even put collectively a video highlighting precisely how folks ought to get out of their automobiles and the place they need to stand, which is shared with all RAC members who’re unlucky sufficient to interrupt down on a motorway.
Festive getaway visitors is predicted to peak sooner than regular this yr as Christmas Day falls on a Monday.
Source: information.sky.com”