Have a safe T.R.I.P this summer. National Highways launches major new safety campaign ahead of holiday season
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National Highways is launching a major new driver awareness
campaign calling on motorists to plan their summer journeys ahead
of one of the busiest times of the year for vehicle
breakdowns. In July and August 2022, National Highways
traffic officer patrols dealt with more than 21,000 breakdowns on
motorways, with August seeing the highest number of breakdowns in
the year. More than a third (34%) of vehicle breakdowns during
these two months were caused by tyre...Request free trial
National Highways is launching a major new driver awareness campaign calling on motorists to plan their summer journeys ahead of one of the busiest times of the year for vehicle breakdowns. In July and August 2022, National Highways traffic officer patrols dealt with more than 21,000 breakdowns on motorways, with August seeing the highest number of breakdowns in the year. More than a third (34%) of vehicle breakdowns during these two months were caused by tyre problems, vehicles running out of fuel, loss of power and engine issues. Meanwhile, data shows that almost one out of four (23%) people agree checking tyre pressure is important but don’t know how to do it. With millions expected to head off on their travels over the coming weeks, National Highways is calling on drivers to make sure they have a safe T.R.I.P this summer by using its new journey planning checklist. National Highways says following the checklist will help to prevent vehicle breakdowns and reduce the number of collisions caused by fatigue. The new T.R.I.P checklist is based on four key principles which are:
National Highways, which is responsible for running England’s motorways and major A road network, says motorists should also factor in regular rest stops on their summer journeys. It is recommended to take a minimum break of at least 15 minutes every two hours to ward off the effects of fatigue. Collisions involving fatigue are most common over the months of July and August with approximately 1 in 15 crashes involving fatigue. Caption: Kelly Rudge is a National Highways traffic officer and is calling on motorists to familiarise themselves with the T.R.I.P checklist before setting off. National Highways traffic officer Kelly Rudge patrols some of the busiest motorways in the country including the M6 and M42 in the Midlands. She said: “We are gearing up for a busy summer on England’s motorway and major A-road network and it’s really important that everyone does their bit to help keep traffic flowing by making sure their vehicle is ready for the journey. “To help keep people moving, it’s important that motorists familiarise themselves with our new T.R.I.P checklist before setting off on their summer journeys. Across the country my colleagues and I dealt with more than 21,000 vehicle breakdowns on motorways in July and August last year, so we’d urge motorists to make sure they have plenty of fuel and oil for their journey as well as checking all the tyres are in good condition. “Drivers should also plan regular rest stops every two hours because collisions involving fatigue are most common over the months of July and August. “It’s also a good idea to make sure you have plenty of fluids in the vehicle in case of unexpected delays as well as sensible clothing like a rain jacket in case the weather changes.” To help keep people safe and traffic flowing, National Highways traffic officers will be on patrol on the network and are often first on the scene in an incident. Their priorities are to keep people safe and fully reopen the road as soon as possible. They stop traffic to clear obstructions and spills, help remove broken-down vehicles, and support the police and other emergency services by managing road closures when there’s a serious incident. Like all National Highways traffic officers, Kelly works hand-in-hand with operators in regional control centres to support colleagues out on the network. Whether on the scene or behind the scenes, traffic officers are there to help keep the traffic flowing and help people to reach their destination safely. For more information on the T.R.I.P vehicle checklist head online to https://uat.nationalhighways.co.uk/Summer2023/ Tips for motorway driving:
Please visit our web page for more information about driving on motorways. Additional information:
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