Why Would Someone Stop On The Motorway?

These two pieces of footage from my viewers show similar situations, but in different levels of risk. People can't help being ill sometimes, and you can't predict when it's going to happen to yourself.
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[@DSAVAGE92]

Props to the first cammer, picked up on the issue incredibly quickly, alerted emergency services, and grew the gap when he saw the issue. Hope the van driver was okay.

[@imaner76]

Indeed very well handled. I hope it was not a medical emergency. If they truly fell asleep at the wheel, then they are as bad as any drink driver and should be dealt with accordingly. Never drive tired. It's a killer.

[@chrisvinciguerra4128]

@@imaner76Obviously they share some blame, but do you really think that drunk driving and driving tired are the same level?

[@cjcronin1000]

@@chrisvinciguerra4128 they’re potentially just as dangerous as each other. Yes there’s other factors such as intent to consider, but both can be equally fatal to the driver and others.

[@TestGearJunkie.]

Strange, isn't it. They have these signs up saying "Don't drive tired, take a break" but you're not allowed to sleep in your car any more 🙄

[@imaner76]

@@chrisvinciguerra4128 driving tired is just as dangerous as drunk or distracted driving. Even recent studies have shown the impairment to be comparable. Death or serious injury are often the outcome in both. We have a responsibility when we step behind the wheel of a car to ensure we are well rested and safe to drive.

[@Jenny.C1978]

Scariest moment ever when I'd been in a queue of traffic for an hour & eventually turned off my engine because it was obvious we weren't going anywhere. When the traffic started moving again the engine wouldn't start. I was in the middle lane. Initially I tried to get it to the hard shoulder because the traffic was crawling but then the traffic started moving really quickly. I was scared for my life. Thank goodness for the Good Samaritan who used his lorry to shield us and jumped out to help. Think he literally could have saved my life that day.

[@frogsplorer]

Oh nightmare. I had a failed starter motor last year. To begin with it failed intermittently with increasing frequency. The garage was having staffing problems so it took ages to get it fixed

[@SultanSaeed_99]

Sounds scary. A few months into my first job and my first car, I was on the way to work on the dual carriageway when my engine starting smoking, then my car suddenly started getting slower and slower at which point I tried getting into the hard shoulder but only got about 30 percent in then my car stopped and couldn’t start the engine. Anyway, I got lucky as about a few mins later some traffic officers came and towed me.

[@Drenwickification]

I was in a similar situation where traffic didn’t move an inch on the motorway for about an hour. When we started moving, there was a van a bit ahead that stayed stopped. I pulled over and walked to the van (he was in the left lane) to see the driver was fully asleep!! Woke him up, I can’t imagine his feeling when he saw me and he was asleep in a stationary car on the motorway! But it all ended well at least

[@RushfanUK]

There are instances when vehicles stop because the driver is incapacitated or the vehicle itself is, what is really frightening is the people who stop in carriageways when they could have got over to the hard shoulder, flat tyres and minor shunts but they stay out there instead of getting off the carriageway.

[@margaretnicol3423]

I remember having a flat on a busy motorway when I was in the 3rd lane. Despite indicators, hazard lights and hand signals it was ages before anyone let me in to the 2nd and then 1st lane so I could get onto the hard shoulder. Scary stuff!

[@Enivri]

That’s why smart Motorways are dangerous, they use the hard shoulder as an extra lane, so if someone needs to pull over for an emergency it can be very dangerous.

[@6yjjk]

Indeed, that happened to me once; engine cut out when I was in lane 4 and wouldn't restart. No way to get across. Luckily I was approaching some roadworks that closed lanes 3 and 4, and I was able to coast to a stop right at the cones. Everyone should've been well aware of the lane closure and moved over, but even then I felt very vulnerable out there. Can't imagine being out there in free-flowing traffic.

[@yippee8570]

@@zbf5h89ftb True. You put your hazards on and get out and away as fast as you can.

[@bigcheeses]

@@Enivri It's pretty terrifying being on those smart motorways. I try to avoid them at all costs but when I have to use them there's always that nagging thought of what I'd do if the car developed a fault. What a terrible idea they are

[@MattBeardless]

Something worth noting when calling Emergency Services on motorways - those boards you see that say something like 'M1 A 109.6' or the likes are marker boards for locations - if you give them that (and direction of travel/speed) it gives operators a much clearer picture of where you are.

[@FBI_Agent_69420]

‏‏‎

[@andreivais]

As someone who rang the emergency services while driving on the motorway on a few occasions to report debris, I think drivers need to learn about the blue boards that are placed every half mile, which helps drivers tell the emergency services exactly where they are - for example, name of the motorway, A or B carriageway and the exact mile marker. Ashley - you could make a quick educational video. In the first video, I hope the driver who rang the emergency services put their hazard lights on. If you have a passenger, could you ask them to get out and check on the driver in front? The driver in front could've had a medical emergency. You can get out of the car on the passenger side. I would've tried to find some good samaritan drivers to stop all lanes, put hazard lights on, and move the VW campervan to the hard shoulder.

[@ethanjack4298]

Yes I think a video about the boards would be very useful

[@R0ssMM]

I wouldn't recommend ever getting out of a car on a motorway. As this video showed, people can start undertaking on the hard shoulder, and that could easily result in a hospitalisation, or worse, of the kind Samaritan

[@andreivais]

True but hopefully if the hazards are on then people will be less likely to go rush and go past. Based on the video it was a while before the first vehicle goes on the hard shoulder.

[@ColinRichardson]

@@R0ssMM I would get on the verge, preferably behind a barrier.. In the case of the first video, I would want to be within the tree line, or even behind the fence..

[@sc-mh3jj]

trying to stop all 3 lanes seems unnecessary and massively risky for untrained members of the public to do

[@kenbrown2808]

one thing I find myself frequently reminding people: if someone ahead of you stops for no apparent reason, there is often a reason. a driver should always use caution when passing someone who has stopped unexpectedly, in case the reason they stopped will affect you as well.

[@sarac.3259]

Indeed. No hazard warning lights likely means incapacitated or problem with vehicle.

[@kenbrown2808]

@@sarac.3259 and how much are you willing to bet it isn't an animal running across in front of the stopped car? as I said, if they stop unexpectedly, you'd be wise to make sure the reason isn't one that will affect you, before you go past.

[@automation7295]

@@kenbrown2808 In this case, there was no animals running across the motorway, so that VW and Toyota just stopped for no reason.

[@kenbrown2808]

@@automation7295 but this is not the only case of somebody stopping for no apparent reason.

[@redbakery8943]

@@kenbrown2808 they'd most likely use their emergency lights if they weren't inebriated.

[@mrblablablabla]

I would definitely stop on the hard shoulder a bit past them, get out and walk back on the other side of the safety barrier to see if I could offer any assistance. All while calling emergency services of course. These are scary, high risk situations. I hope the people in the videos were okay.

[@carlhartwell7978]

I'm not so sure that's safe tbh. The hard shoulder as well as lane one would be blocked then.🤷

[@mrblablablabla]

@@carlhartwell7978 that would be the idea. How else are you going to get to the van when people are driving in the hard shoulder? People really shouldn’t be driving there anyway.

[@keveb4724]

Crazy idea. There's no way I'd be walking on the hard shoulder/motorway. Impatient vans and lorries makes that a fatal mistake waiting to happen

[@mrblablablabla]

@@keveb4724 luckily there are others who are willing to help people who may be in dire need

[@carlhartwell7978]

@@mrblablablabla I think my point is that an emergency vehicle would be best to do it, hi vis PPE, cones blocking the lanes further away etc. Also you say that people shouldn't be driving on the hard shoulder, of course true. But the danger is that a vehicle in lane one might not see the hazard in time... in that case maybe the hard shoulder could avert a collision. Not if a do-gooder (albeit with good intentions) parks up in it though.

[@kiko5965]

Great video again, great to get some insight in what to do in a situation like this. Thanks mate !

[@smilerbob]

Nice video and some good points raised there. I have seen drivers asleep twice on the motorway before and both times were due to the motorway being closed for a long period of time (4 hours and 6 hours respectively). On both occasions, those of us that stayed awake would politely knock on the windows of those catching up on a few zzz's when we saw the road starting to open up. It gives them time to wake up rather than immediately drive in that half awake state. To be fair, I saw the best of human nature on one of those closures as there were a few stranded vehicles further down the motorway where lights and radios had been left on too long and the cars couldn't start. Those of us with jump cables were getting others going and those completely broken down we were pushing to the hard shoulder. The emergency services had enough to deal with that day (1 motorway closure, 2 diversion route closures due to further incidents plus a high level incident 40 miles away taking crews from other areas) With regards to the first clip, I would've been tempted to pull onto the hard shoulder when the emergency controller said for the viewer to carry on and then try to wake the driver from the passenger side of the vehicle. If there was a lorry behind I might have asked the driver just to protect for a few minutes as well. Could have been a medical emergency as much as simply being tired and asleep This is where I miss my flashing amber lights that I had installed on my previous vehicle. I could alert those behind to hazards and they came in useful once when a vehicle decided to have a single vehicle incident with the central reservation and in doing so lost all lights while stranded in the outside lane. I offered the "protection" while waiting for the emergency services but strong advice to others...only do that if you feel comfortable in yourself doing it and 100% get out of your vehicle if you do

[@davidvanderklauw]

You seem to be a decent intelligent person.

[@BALHAM69]

Well done on teaching learners what to do in this situation too 😊

[@racerdeth]

For anyone who needs to direct emergency services to exactly where they are - look for the signs on the embankment every mile - they have the road designation, an A or B which clarifies which of the carriageways you're on, and then how far along you are on it. There's one @0:49 though it's not legible in the cam footage. Something something Viofo 😏

[@TarikM2C]

These are some really scary scenarios, hope nothing worse came about after the cammers departed. Second one you just wonder what's gone on to stop like that

[@hicky62]

Many years ago, I had the misfortune to break down on the M1 near York. Luckily, it was in stationary traffic and was able to push it over to the hard shoulder. I dread to think about the consequences if it was fast moving. I also used to do vehicle recovery, and recovering off a motorway is one of the scariest things I've ever had to do.

[@KXXULADavidOC]

some scary scenarios here but both handled well by both cammers, well done to the first one for so quickly calling the emergency services ad dealing with that situation

[@TheTonyspoons]

That first situation is so difficult. Instinct tells me you're duty bound to stop and help once you see theyre incapacitated as you could be saving their life - but then my brain tells me don't be so effing stupid, you could get totalled by a lorry doing 60mph and you've made your children fatherless. Very, very difficult. Would hate to have that playing on my mind as I drove off but I think continuing is unfortunately the right call.

[@hermand]

Interesting timing - I was on the motorway at night a few weeks back, it was raining heavily and visibility was atrocious and I came upon a car stranded in Lane 1 on a short sectoin with no hard shoulder (I think maybe a bridge or something). Selfishly, I admit, my instinct on braking was how exposed I then was and I was lucky to be able to get into Lane 2. I did call 999, so hopefully they got it sorted and to safety

[@GeorgeThoughts]

I've been binging The Motorway on My5 (Channel 5 app) recently and I'd urge all other drivers wishing to educate themselves on the dangers of motorways to watch it as well! I feel like it has also educated me on the best terminology to use in a situation like this. "Stopped in a Live Lane", "M6 Southbound Mile Marker *****". Using a larger vehicle like a van or lorry as a shield too. I like to hope I'd have tried to help the first van which is probably a medical emergency, but with cars passing on the hard shoulder too it's SO dangerous to do so. Ideally there'd be enough of a block that all lanes are forced to stop or slow, that at least makes it safer.

[@richardr2716]

Just come across this video randomly on KZbin. Unfortunately the driver of the vw was my uncle he had a heart attack behind the wheel and is no longer with us as the police took over 6 hours to arrive 😞💔

[@shed66215]

1st scenario - Was talking about this with a friend yesterday after a delivery van driver parked up outside his house to have a 20min nap - much more preferable for him to do that than having an accident on the road that involves him and or anybody else. Credit where it's due in that he recognised the need to do it too.

[@_.Madness._]

I am a delivery driver. I see people stopping like this almost every day. I just blast the horn to wake them up. 🙄 And if I was to call the emergency services every time I see somebody weaving in and out of their lane, I wouldn't be doing anything else.. It's rare to see somebody round here in Sheffield driving within their lane.

[@frogsplorer]

Using the horn is an interesting idea. I think it was probably a medical emergency bug you never know. Getting out the car on a motorway just seems suicidal

[@TheTradge]

I had an incident a while back (also on the M6 funnily enough) where we were driving at night and I was behind someone with no tail lights, thankfully there were quite a few other cars around so it was fairly well lit, but I had to call the emergency services because if further down the road it became less busy someone could come up behind them and go into the back of them.

[@cjk32cam]

Had a similar situation with an incapacitated driver on the motorway late at night. Straddled lanes 1 & 2 with hazards on matching their ~40mph speed, well back and keeping a close on eye the rear view mirror. People still overtook at 70mph without slowing to observe first. They eventually pulled off and disappeared through a red light.

[@williamfence566]

Best advice I had from an officer years ago . " protect yourself, better having one vehicle to deal with than multiple.". By all means speak to emergency services as in clip 1 but not from a vulnerable position.

[@BeckaBN]

The first clip looks similar to driving in the most recent episode of The Crash Detectives. Just like your viewer, people were calling it in but it unfortunately led to fatalities. Well done on your viewer for responding well here

[@richH1625]

1:27 vw is braking ok on and off - creeping withe brakes on too; prob automatic; the dsg box disengages the clutch when stopped for a few seconds; I'm guessing they are asleep rather than poorly? Would it be worth a couple of beeps on the horn ,,, or would that put the rest of the traffic in more danger if they'd started diving again?

[@ToppyTree]

would you suggest using the horn in case it gets them back awake if it is a sleep situation?

[@DilipDas]

Also when calling 999 please give the location marker. Often a square blue sign with orange lettering which reads "M6 B 250.5". This is the best way to give an accurate location on the motorway network.

[@kenbrown2808]

berhaps the oddest difference between US and UK driving is the use of "inside" and "outside." in the US, the inside lane is the lane closest to the center reservation, and the outside lane is the lane furthest from it. as in, if you go any further outside, you'll be outside the roadway.

[@BanjoPixelSnack]

I was driving my sister’s old’classic’ Mini to work one morning in January (my car was in for repair) when it broke down on the motorway… I managed to get it partly onto the hard shoulder but it was still sticking out into lane one. No engine, no electrics, no lights, no hazards lights, nothing. It was extremely scary. People were beeping their horns angrily and gesturing at me as they went by as if I’d deliberately choose to just park my car there!! Thankfully everyone went round me okay and eventually, the Mini started again. That was the first and last time I ever drove it!

[@izzyr3231]

Thanks Ashley, my initial instinct would be that passing a stopped car in lane 1 on the hard shoulder is safer than moving to lane 2 and back as there will be traffic in lane 2, could you explain why this is more appropriate?

[@dlevi67]

Big thumbs up to the cammer - and to you Ashley for making people aware of what to do in these situations.

[@rustydusty2992]

@dlevi67 up to the point of 2.15 aprox yes but after that cammer should have moved into the hard shoulder driven past vehicle by 30 yards stuck hazzards on, got out grabbing Hi-vis go behind barrier quickley assess the situation with driver then continued further back for another 20 yards and wave traffic over if safe to do so getting up a bank if there is one a little way as you do not want to be around vehcles if they get struck when the traffic picks up speed again.

[@JohnSusanSchofield]

@@rustydusty2992 Waving people over when not appearing official can distract drivers making the situation worse. I was in an accident many years ago when I was distracted by people doing just that.

[@rustydusty2992]

@@JohnSusanSchofield So do you get distracted by looking at a roadsign then, straight road peripheral vision needed only as I said 20 yards behind vehicle up a bank (if one) of course you do not have to do it for every vehicle only those that are not concentrating and look as they are likely to slam into static vehicle. I aslo said Hi-vis which can make you look official.

[@dlevi67]

@@rustydusty2992 You do NOT get out of your car on a motorway unless you know exactly what you are doing, have hi-vis clothing and flashing lights on your vehicle. In addition, the cammer was still on the phone with the Police until he was assured by them that emergency help was on the way.

[@rustydusty2992]

@@dlevi67 Yes you do as advised in the HC rule 277 SUBSECTION GET SAFE .That is why I have advised them what to do in my various comments, but I will explain it again if you wish. In bullit points, Hard shoulder exit n/s if you can with Hi- vis if you have one, 20-30 yards past stranded vehicle, behind barrier, 20 yards behind stranded vehicle, up a bank as petrol does not run up hill, and just to be sure please read the HC yourself as you do get out as advised by the Highways agency and HC as when a vehicle is on the hard shoulder those that get struck have been there for just 11 minutes. In case you are confusing me with someone else about getting out in the live lane or something the HC also recommends that you do if you can safely (upper section in red in HC also rule 277 get safe.

[@cmagnos]

I had a similar issue, M25, fast lane doing around 60 mph with some rain. The van in front of me started waving in the lane and stopped partly toward the central reservation. It took me a couple of seconds to realise it was standing still, so I managed to stop half car length from the van. Luckily the car behind me stopped in time too.

[@ganrimmonim]

I can no longer drive for medical reasons. Very uncontrolled epilepsy. I think in retrospect, I probably had more mild epilepsy than it is now, for years before my diagnosis. During which time I drove. That sort of thing could easily have happened to me.

[@AcerDyan]

This was actually such a weird situation and interesting on how it was managed

[@AngelaH2222]

Thanks for the reminder about still being able to use a mobile phone to call in an emergency, , with all the publicity about having to be handless I think people are reluctant to call... Though i thought i had still heard of people being in trouble for phoning on a regular mobile, even when needing to call the police when driving.......

[@Non-Stick_Pan]

For everyone saying they would stop and check the van driver - commendable but ultimately counter-productive. Stopping and getting out on motorway is a very dangerous place even for emergency service personnel trained in the correct tactics and having the right equipment. Also adding another potential casualty means you are diverting resources away from the original incident. The cammer in this incident did exactly the right thing - he alerted the right people whilst providing clear, concise and accurate information.

[@JulianShagworthy]

Personally, I'd have moved onto the hardshoulder to get a view of the van driver sooner, so an ambulance can be dispatched as soon as possible if necessary, but great job on helping out and not being a bystander.

[@Equiluxe1]

I once saw some one having a picnic on the A1M complete with table and chairs pink tablecloth and napkins. This was in the late 70's as I was heading towards London from Cambridge, cannot understand what the attraction was of the site just sitting behind their car on the hard shoulder.

[@harrisonandrew]

We had a similar thing happen last night (23/11) on M53 at junction 10 heading towards Chester. It was dark, traffic was moving at maybe 60 mph and all of a sudden there was a small car stopped dead in the outside lane with its hazard lights on. My wife was driving and she managed to slow in time and move into the inside lane to pass. It was a real squeaky-bum time. It could so easily have been catastrophic.

[@nickroyal8619]

I’ve been that duck, Lane 3 in the front passenger seat. Driver was tired after a long week away with work and subsequent flight, and we were in an unfamiliar hire car. Key was vehicle was an auto, so when traffic slowed a bit, driver braked and went for the ‘clutch’. When the car slowed unexpectedly fast, they pressed the clutch harder thinking the engine was the issue…. Once stationary the driver froze in shock. 2/3 cars and a van flashed past BOTH sides. I had to ‘calmly’ talk them through getting going again -foot on brake, restart car, vehicle in gear, accelerate etc. I’m grateful the other drivers were on their A game that day, we were incredibly lucky, so were they. I recall we stopped at the next services and I just walked off and cried. I insisted on taxis after that.

[@maybenot6075]

Honestly i would have stopped to check on the guy in the transporter van

[@richardclarke9966]

Difficult one - you would put yourself in even more danger - not sure there's a 100% 'right' thing to do there, other than report it and let the ES take over

[@goldilocks913]

Could be having a stroke and everyone trundling past 🤷

[@semipro2810]

You couldn't help him either way, so the viewer did the right thing. He called ES, they will get to him as soon as possible.@@goldilocks913

[@mda5003]

Far too dangerous to do that on a motorway - you could both get wiped out in a split second.

[@guitarman256]

​@@richardclarke9966 With brave souls like you around it's a wonder we even need the emergency services. Bit of common sense. Flag down a lorry driver and get them to stop behind you ideally blocking lanes 1 and 2 for the 3 minutes it would have taken to move the van to safety.

[@dave597]

Good awareness in noticing the weaving and calling emergency services, but not once did he use the horn whilst on the phone, I think if it was tiredness then the horn use would have woken him up. Is this a suitable course of action? Is there a reason he didn't use the horn?

[@Tom-2221]

Wow, very difficult situation. Your viewer handled it really well, hopefully the police could coordinate with highways to get CCTV to monitor and matrix signs set.

[@FatJoeFilms]

In the Northwest, the motirway police and highways share a control room which works really well for setting signals etc

[@MeTube3]

I actually woke up whilst driving on the M6. Don’t remember anything about falling asleep. Never did that again.

[@ABB-bw6tc]

In Australia on some motorways they have a cycling lane where the hard shoulder is

[@Umski]

Scary stuff, the first chap did really well by holding back and calling 999 - the call handler seemed a little laid back about it all (seems to be all too common with 999 in my experience and could be the difference between life changing incidents or not) - I think there are many people in society so impatient and in their own bubbles of existence that they would do nothing or make the situation far worse (like the over-takers)

[@Umski]

@@darren6589 clearly based on the driver's description of what was happening it probably needed to be all 3 services on a category 1 response pre-empting the fact that it could all go very wrong, very quickly...

[@markpaul1154]

A Friend of mine was killed on the A1 at wetherby when he stopped to assist a driver who had done just this. They were hit at 60MPH by an artic who didnt even apply the brakes, both he and the driver he stopped to help died instantly. He was the only breadwinner for his wife and children.

[@R04drunner1]

😢

[@ashley_neal]

Sad story

[@bexxy629]

The first clip is a tricky one for me, Im ex ambulance so my first instinct would be to check the driver etc but then you have scene safety to consider you could put hazards on if your further back and put car in full lock left but its still very sketchy. The hard shoulder is another option but with that lorry flying down it I understand why the viewer was hesitant to use it. I think the viewer made the right choice in that situation and hopefully the driver got the right support quickly.

[@rustydusty2992]

@bexxy629 But the hard shoulder infringement was more that a minute after the cammer realised he could confirm he had stopped, so by moving into the hard shoulder himself and passed the vehicle by 20-30 yards he would have possibly detered that infringment, staying behind vehicle is not HC recomennded and Highways agency recommended policy. Of course the safety of the rescuer is paramount so this would have been the best course of action to take but doing what you can for the other vehicle driver with safety in mind. Ex Ambo, SAR (ALSAR) and presently 4x4 response myself with HATO training.

[@Rroff2]

Yeah, I think the viewer did what was safest for themselves and everyone else, but having first aid training my first instinct would be to try and check on the driver. Something I'm actually a little critical of when it comes to the training (at least L3 at work) as I don't think it goes into enough being aware of the potential dangers at the scene of an emergency before attempting to carry out aid.

[@bexxy629]

@@rustydusty2992 yeah totally agree and defer to your more experience ( I was a eca for a private company working urgent tier) my comment was more spitballing of the different thought processes in my head but the hard shoulder does make more sense. I think the cammer still did a good job if he was merely saying that in his position he was in what the safest thing he could have done.

[@rustydusty2992]

@@bexxy629 Yeah I might possibly be in the same position as him were it not for the training.

[@nikmachen6561]

I'm really surprised at the comments on here and Ashley saying that it was the right thing to drive on. Honestly, with the slow moving traffic I think I'd have pulled at a 45 degree angle between lane 1 and the hard shoulder to create a space and tried to assist the VW driver from the passenger side. He said there was a queue behind him, so the chances of being flattened by an unobservant truck would be worth the chance for me. It would seem that popular opinion would make me wrong, but I honestly think that is what I would have done - unless I had my kid in in the car.

[@kurbeco]

I wonder if it was adaptive cruise control and lane assist that was keeping the VW going, and then when traffic moved off it wasn’t happy

[@jagracershoestring609]

I was travelling up the M1 one night some years ago, and it snowed heavily. Vehicles were abandoned on all lanes, and the Motorway soon closed due to a lorry hitting an abandoned vehicle. No idea where the drivers went in a whiteout.

[@PedroConejo1939]

I always used to say that drivers would abandon their cars at the first sign of snow. They haven't got the sense to leave it somewhere safe, so what chance to they have trying to drive in it? Why do they even bother if snow is forecast?

[@stephenbagwell8275]

Would there be slow moving traffic if the vehicles were 2 chevrons apart?

[@hausmaster9801]

I’m a recovery driver and the last motorway vehicle I recovered was an accident between a stationary vehicle in lane 1 and an artic. Let’s just say there wasn’t much of the car left, no boot space, no rear seat space, front seats were under the dash, and claret all over the inside of the vehicle. After talking to police on scene the driver thought it was wise to brake check a 43tn artic, in a Ford focus and paid the ultimate price, whilst also taking their partner with them.

[@Reverend-Rodger]

I had a blow out in the right hand lane once, I'm very fortunate that it was a rear tyre and the people behind could see it happening and backed off so that I could move to the hard shoulder. It could have easily caused a pile up.

[@kenbrown2808]

having had tire failures both front and rear, I'd much rather have a blowout on a front tire. with modern power steering, unless you're in a hard corner, a front blowout leaves you working to keep control, while a rear blowout has you working to regain control.

[@InfernalPasquale]

Today when I was driving on the motorway, someone stopped on the motorway.

[@PedroConejo1939]

How weird is that, I've just got home having followed a taxi for some miles that was all over the lane, and heading towards the verge at times. I concluded it was a mobile phone distracting them but turned off before anything more serious transpired. I have in the past called 999 when a driver was really badly out of shape but not this time. The motorway nightmare scenario is ending up stationary in a live lane. If something happens to the driver or vehicle when stopped in traffic and they can't pull off, that's a fearful event. Occasionally, someone can't just duck across from say, lane 3 to the hard shoulder due to the density of the traffic. This is why everyone else needs to have their wits about them.

[@smilerbob]

I am no longer surprised by what I have seen and still see on motorways and dual carriageways. Having spoken to a few people that have had near misses through not seeing traffic slow down in front of them the response is usually the same “Well everyone is travelling in the same direction and roughly the same speed, you tend to relax a little with the concentration don’t you? I mean, you don’t need to watch for someone running across the road” They often get a raised eyebrow stare back for a few seconds followed by a “Well if you had been concentrating you would’ve seen the traffic slowing” It doesn’t matter if you are in a 5mph car park, 20/30mph town High Street or a 70mph motorway…you need the same concentration levels to look out for differing hazards. Some people 🤦‍♂️ oh, and just becuase traffic looks OK, please can everyone put the phones away while driving 😡

[@tooleyheadbang4239]

They BUILD motorways like that, now!

[@PedroConejo1939]

@@smilerbob There was a sensation I'd get on busy freeways in the States where it felt like you were on a moving carpet - every lane full, all moving at exactly the same speed. It feels really odd but in terms of driver alertness, it's really bad - which is stupid, because if you _are_ paying attention, it's easy to spot any variation to the pattern. It's happened to me a few times in the UK but not nearly to the same extent as those West Coast monster roads.

[@thealbagalavanter9986]

What I would have done is moved onto the hard shoulder reversed back few feet maybe say 10 feet max then turn on hazards and waited until the police arrived

[@fredblogs]

As a retired truck driver, our roads are full of Idiots. I’ve had them come at me on the wrong side of the M4 and had one pull off the hard shoulder directly in front of my 44 ton truck, I had no choice but to go on the hard shoulder to miss him.

[@6yjjk]

Use the numbered blue and white posts along the motorway to give an exact location. Pulling onto the hard shoulder and using the emergency phone would accomplish the same thing.

[@mrblablablabla]

I was surprised the phone operater didn’t instruct the caller to do so

[@svr5423]

I usually just give them the GPS coordinates, SAT navs and phone display them. Can't get more precise.

[@5688gamble]

In that situation with the van, would it be safer to use the hard shoulder to build speed before rejoining? In this case there was an opportunity to use lane 2, but to get out of danger, is that permissible if you are forced to stop and traffic in lane 2 is too dense?

[@MisterDoctorFunk]

I had the same thought. Can't imagine the police would have any qualms about you using the hard shoulder in a situation like that to avoid making the situation worse than it already was.

[@tgm9991]

You could but the traffic in lane 2 wasn't going all that fast

[@MisterDoctorFunk]

@@tgm9991 the original comment presented a scenario where traffic in lane 2 was too dense to emerge safely.

[@RoamingAdhocrat]

it is hard illegal to overtake on the hard shoulder. In this situation I'd have stopped on the hard shoulder behind the suspect vehicle

[@tamberp]

Work recently had an incident where a van driver -- for no apparent reason, and with no prior warning -- came to a dead stop from 45+ MPH in lane 1 of an otherwise basically empty motorway. About 800 yards in front of work's wrecker towing another truck. Thankfully, no serious injuries in any of the vehicles involved, because the forces involved were *spectacular*. I'm hoping that, once all the proceedings have come to a close, the dashcam footage from the car in lane 2 that caught everything up to the moment of impact (before getting turned into a pinball) will get released; because it's a real eye-opener.

[@peterthompson9854]

In the first scenario, I think I’d have got out and woke him up. Of course increasing the risk to me, but immediately negating the risk elsewhere. I certainly would not have felt comfortable continuing.

[@SimonJM]

Apart from anything else, nice to see an Eddie Stobart truck!

[@richblack4451]

Wow! If only cars were equipped with some type of noise-making device. I know, that's crazy talk.

[@lian1291]

And he still had his foot on brake which is worrying!! Hope the guy was ok.

[@icouldbewrongicouldberight]

Stroke?

[@TheWonkyTripod]

Not necessarily. VW cars keep the brakes and brake lights on when you come to a stop even if you take your foot off the pedal.

[@Dhb61]

Lots of reason. Sorted

[@StefanVeenstra]

For this reason I try to leave the gap as many metres as the amount of km/h I am driving. That way there's always more than 3,5 seconds to respond regardless of velocity.

[@Ep1cure]

I would recommend using hazard lights in this situation if you want to shield them. Cammer might have used them but no visible sign. I want to add that a good gap to the stopped car if no-one is behind to be ready to go forward and hoot to avoid rear end incident.

[@CJGAMES4202]

How's that for timing, parked up outside school watching an Ashley video and one of his cars goes past lol 😲

[@rodmorrison47]

Is it wrong to be almost hoping that the VW driver was having a medical emergency? From experience I could see this behaviour as a sign of a massive stroke. Either way, cammer did a great job there, very responsible.

[@alanobiwala6822]

Sometimes people's state of mind isn't what it should be and opt for ending their situation/lives in unpredictable ways without regard to anybody or anything else!!

[@Simonj110]

It baffles me that people drive, knowing at that point, something feels wrong but still continue until its too late. I don't know about any ill health situations that don't present some sort of feeling beforehand. I.E, Nothing is ever sudden. I am prepared to learn if others know more. Kind regards!

[@gorillaau]

Falling asleep behind the wheel is rarely instantaneous. You would have been tired and even fatigued before you set off. The concentrations and multitasking required while driving completed the journey to the land of zzz.

[@LakesGeek]

Everyone seems to know exactly what they'd do in that situation and the heroic moves they'd make. I only hope to be thinking that clearly in such a scary situation with andrenaline rushing like crazy

[@nikmachen6561]

To be fair, people are more likely commenting on what they'd like to think they'd do. I've been a few couple of emergency situations in my life and generally think I am quite good at taking a breath and assessing what to do, despite a generally anxious disposition otherwise.

[@1987tijgertje]

Well in my case I encountered a car that had died (no running engine) on the fast lane during rush hour. I put my car in front, put a towing cable between us and pulled her out before she got rear ended. When we started to drive with the hazards on, a lorry driver blocked the other lane so we could go to the shoulder ❤. I towed her to the first exit, which happened to be a petrol station. It wrecked the tow cable, but care

[@911HRW]

So at no point did you think she might have got rear ended whilst you were kneeling in front of her car attaching a rope? Mental.

[@1987tijgertje]

@@911HRWYes that was always a risk. Now the traffic already slowed down in a traffic jam (having one lane blocked does that) But yes it was a risk.

[@JohnnyMotel99]

About the hard shoulder, I have awful bladder problems and often I am driving along and the urge to pee becomes so strong I start to panic. I look out for service station boards and the nearest is many miles away. What should I do? Would that be considered an emergency stop on the hard shoulder?

[@tgm9991]

No it wouldn't be appropriate use of the hard shoulder

[@icouldbewrongicouldberight]

If the panic has a tendency to impair your ability to drive safely, I'd say refrain from driving til you've a solution. The solution might be medication, wearing "Depends"... Hth

[@smilerbob]

Sounds like a medical condition that _might_ need to be DVLA notified. In all honesty, if the issue is that great then I recommend planning a journey where you have services available and I also recommend stopping in each of them until you need to pee and then carry on so you aren't caught out on your journey. If a motorway has no services then there are probably A roads that have local services that can be used. I also strongly recommend making an appointment with your GP as it sounds like something is going on that needs to be investigated further and possibly some medication given to help control that Take care out there and remember, the hard shoulder is for emergencies only. If you need to pee, you can't hold it and you can't get to a toilet...unfortunately the seat will have to get wet and then cleaned afterwards The same is true for animals, children and babies...I have seen someone stop on the chevrons between a slip road and live lane so their child could relieve themselves

[@JohnnyMotel99]

@@smilerbob the issue is being medicated, it’s called BPH. But thanks for advising this is not an emergency. Fortunately it hasn’t yet come to a wet seat event😝. Tbh, the most difficult situation is in heavy traffic in cities. For that I always carry a wide mouth bottle!

[@smilerbob]

@@JohnnyMotel99 Good to know it is being medicated and apologies if my original messaged seemed a little short and direct. Unfortunately the joys of KZbin comments means you cannot see my facial expressions while I am talking to realise things were said with a smile and complete best intentions 👍 I have had a passenger in the car before with similar and part of our journey involved coming off the motorway to use local services as we knew the motorway ones were closed for refurbishment - hence my long winded advice

[@Ginger_Dalek]

Nothing scares me more than having to suddenly slow or stop on a motorway, especially with 70mph tailgaters.

[@tosspot1305]

Abhorrent that people used the shoulder to pass as a live lane

[@ed_j_webb]

2:19 Is that what other people call the inside lane? I though the inside lane is lane 3 as it's the one most inside the motorway. Lane 1 is most near the outside of the motorway.

[@Matthew-bu7fg]

Big credit to the viewer in clip #1 !

[@Cragsidebaz]

Some years ago on the M1 I skidded about 80 yards into the back of a car which had come to a halt in the outside lane with no traffic around it. I didn’t see it stop as I was checking my mirror at that moment to pull back in after overtaking. When the police arrived I said I couldn’t understand why it would have been stopped there like that. The police said my story corroborated that of other drivers behind me. We think the driver was using his phone and forgot where he was. Fortunately, although my car was w/o, we were all safe. The police prosecuted him. Result!

[@elliottsw]

Once I was in lane 3 of the M1 when really REALLY heavy fog hit. Traffic was still moving along at 50-60mph because the road was well marked and people had fog lights on but the car in front of me (in lane 3) kept slowing down and slowing down and eventually came to a complete halt. There was nobody behind me but traffic passing in lane 2 at 50-60mph so it was only a matter of time until someone ploughed in to me because I couldn't merge left to get around the guy. From the looks of it, he couldn't find his fog lights so he stopped to get his passenger to help him find the switch. Eventually he realised what my horn and flashing lights meant and he started moving again and everyone survived. Never underestimate how completely braindead people can be when they encounter something they weren't expecting, like weather in the UK.

[@leenevin8451]

I’ve used the hard shoulder to pass in this situation. I’m more bothered about my safety than the law (was dark as well)

[@daveyboy6210]

A car did that the m27 just to check front of car for damage or something. He didn't seemed concerned. And a huge hard shoulder next to him 😮

[@XeonXR6]

In the first instance, do you think it would be okay to pull up on the hard shoulder and assist someone in need of help?

[@clickrick]

You have to consider whether you're putting yourself at unnecessary risk from others.

[@trick700]

This is why we must always be prepared to stop in any situation! I’ve come across cars straddling lanes on a motorway due to hitting the central res, puncturing or simply running out of fuel! I’ve seen wrecked caravans, SUV’s upside down, and ten car shunts. Sh1t happens and it’s always going to happen sometime soon right in front of you! Keep your distance, keep to speed limit, save fuel and stay safe. Simples! 😅

[@Ep1cure]

I would recommend using hazard lights in this situation if you want to shield them. Cammer might have used them but no visible sign.

[@tgm9991]

Cam vehicle had a queue of cars behind him so no need for hazards

[@Ep1cure]

@@tgm9991 Yes. Just worth pointing out if there isn't. And it could also alert the drivers behind that this is not a regular queue.

[@Ep1cure]

@@tgm9991 Don't get me wrong. This isn't a rebuttal. Just depends on situation.

[@Haze1434]

I remember once, back when I was about 23 years old and had only been driving for about a year, I was doing 70mph on a motorway and my front, offside (driver side) tyre exploded. Literally exploded, it didn't go down slowly. Sounded like a shotgun inside the car! I was in the middle lane at the time, the car immediately went in to the right lane (UK road) and then I managed to white-knuckle-ride it over to the hard shoulder. Fortunately it was really late at night, so the road was semi-clear, and I didn't hit any other vehicles. If it had been busier, or I'd have been in lane 3, it would have been a very different story. EDIT: Tyre hadn't shown any sings of having issues, I can only assume some debris punctured it.

[@highdownmartin]

I had someone stop in lane one of a temporary 50 mph M27. It looked like it was to read a fuckin map. I’ve been driving forty odd years, cars buses Landrover’s motorcycles. I have never been so terrified as the whole thing unfolded without any warning. If it had happened when the road speed was 70, I doubt I’d have got away unscathed. I personally hate smart motorways after this.

[@BossySwan]

Did you manage to get any intel on the first driver being ok?

[@MonkeyBurrito]

In the first clip, would it have been wrong to enter the hard shoulder and try to help the guy in the Volkswagen?

[@911HRW]

It’s an emergency so no it wouldn’t have been wrong.

[@blueberrysavers3547]

I think the practice of police and Highways England pulling people over on the hard shoulder should stop due to the risks of both the driver and the police involved of stopping on a motorway (but will be allowed for the police only and maybe the maintenance team) . I am not sure if you can pull over to an orange emergency bay for a police. However, using the hard shoulder in a breakdown or to call emergency is (I think( allowed although you can also do so on the go. Instead of pulling people to the hard shoulder, we should direct them to the nearest junction, service area or other safe location.

[@chrispop99]

Lots of 'smart' motorways around here, so see stopped vehicles in live lanes quite a lot. It's terrifying, even when everyone is driving reasonably.

[@jwalker7567]

See them on the M1 smart motorway frequently. No warning, just a stopped car. Equally see loads of false alarms, 40mph for no reason etc

[@chrispop99]

@@jwalker7567 One recently on the M4 in lane 1. No warning signs activated. Saw a very near miss close to me. At the next set of signs, it said Warning possible obstruction!

[@911HRW]

@@chrispop99Most likely as the driver who called gave the wrong location.

[@911HRW]

@@jwalker7567How do you know they’re for no reason? Can you not see the problem here? People “assume” there is nothing so ignore them then when there is someone, it’s too late. The people in the control know more than the drivers do.

[@911HRW]

If only they put huge yellow lay-bys in with signs saying refuge ahead and drivers had half a brain to not just stop but to limp into one. But no, blame someone else.

[@richardpeel6056]

On the M2 coast bound at J3 after 15-00 hrs onwards the slip road can back up 1/2 mile onto lane 1. Cars wishing to avoid the queue drive up to the head of the queue in lane 2 and then try to push in by stopping and waiting for lane 1 to advance a car length. The cars behind the lane cheat in lane 2 also have to stop but there is often an accident where someone fails to stop in time. When the lane cheat is blocking lane 2 or after the accident he has caused, traffic in lane 2 is trying to move to lane 3 and traffic in lane 3 is trying to move to lane 4 and all the lanes end up at a standstill, especially if there is another accident. Although lane 1 is going to be blocked by traffic leaving the motorway there is no reason why the rest of the motorway should grind to halt except for the selfishness of a few!

[@DasArab]

Ok, the first clip, I know your not supposed to use the horn for anything other than to warn someone your there, but even as the cammer is alongside surely it would have been totally appropriate to have laid the hand on the horn at some point during that?

[@TheUkdan02]

In the first clip, although the cammer did a good job, I think I would have opted to pull alongside on the hard shoulder and check on the driver. This could have been a medical emergency and life saving action could have been taken or at the least an ambulance called. Imagine how you would feel if afterwards you found out they had died from a heart attack or other medical issue where you could have possibly intervened. Of course, this is easy to say sat comfortably at my desk and may not have been my first thought if I was there, so props to the cammer regardless.

[@frankp.2831]

Now imagine, if you can, travelling about 60 mph when a car about 200 feet ahead of you panic stops and shifts into reverse because they had missed their exit. No room for evasive action because of traffic. 😳😳😱

[@bobstirling6885]

That's why you get so many collisions at junctions.

[@andyclark8991]

Does anyone know the outcome for both of these scenarios. I hope there all ok.

[@andyclark8991]

Often you see lorry/car go into the stationary vehicle. Anyone know the outcome, hope there all ok

[@yippee8570]

Forgive me if this sounds like a stupid question but is it 999? Is it definitely an emergency? Because I called the police once when some horrible thugs were kicking my front door and I was terrified but the police refused to come saying it wasn't an emergency. Same thugs kept smashing my wing mirrors when my car was parked. Police didn't care (not that that was an emergency, but it was an awful situation).

[@brianfunt2619]

I can't comment on the specifics of your incident, but yes this was definitely an emergency. A car stopped in a lane on a motorway in moving traffic is an emergency in of itself, ignoring the possibility of the van driver suffering a medical emergency

[@Zeem4]

One of the most terrifying things I've ever seen is a car stopped in lane 3 of the southbound M1 near Northampton, and the driver standing behind the car, centrally in the lane, talking on his phone. I've no idea what happened, but if an inattentive driver had crashed into him and his car, there wouldn't have even been a body left to pick up.

[@claptrappers]

I must admit, I thought it was a bit petty calling 999, but the cammer was spot on. I know it's unsafe, but I think I might've exited my vehicle to see if he needed medical treatment.

[@theaikidoka]

The first clip seems like a situation in which it is advisable to use the horn heavily. Put your own hazards on, and lean on the horn. Just tapping it makes it seem like impatience, a long blast means something is up. People will be looking to see who's beeping if nothing else, so it's a good way to make sure they are keeping an eye on their surroundings. If you don't get a response after 5-10 seconds, then there's clearly something more than a distracted driver ahead.

[@kenbrown2808]

in the US, it's the opposite. a series of honks is more likely to be interpreted as an alert and a long blast is more likely to be interpreted as a telling-off.

[@gordon861]

@@kenbrown2808The goal here is to get a reaction from what appears to be a stationary unresponsive driver, leaning on the horn is more likely to do that than short honks.

[@kenbrown2808]

@gordon861 well, leaning on the horn will most likely get a reaction.

[@theaikidoka]

@@kenbrown2808 Yeah, honestly it would be reassuring if the reaction was anger, at least the driver is alive/conscious to be angry.

[@kenbrown2808]

@@theaikidoka don't forget the us response to anger tends to violence.