Couriers could benefit from 'hard shoulder running'
Date: 15 October 2007
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The government is planning to open up the hard shoulder of motorways to motorists, including couriers, in a move aimed at easing congestion on UK roads.
Details of the initiative were contained in a memo leaked to the Mail on Sunday, and are likely to cause controversy.
Congestion is a serious concern for freight haulage drivers and couriers, as their livelihood depends on how quickly they can get from A to B. Opening up an extra lane on motorways could increase their traffic capacity by a third.
However, road safety groups may be concerned that doing away with the hard shoulder could lead to accidents when cars break down and block the carriageway, and that it would be harder for emergency service vehicles to reach the scene.
But new 'safe haven' areas and gantries warning of accidents could help to allay these fears. In fact, in a pilot scheme on the M42 in the Midlands, opening up the hard shoulder to traffic has been a success.
This 'hard shoulder running' could be rolled out to nearly 2,000 miles of motorway, making life easier for couriers and other freight haulage drivers.
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