22 June 2009

Firefighters are renewing their safety plea to motorists caught up in tailbacks following a collision on the M40 last night.

A fire engine on its way to the scene was delayed by vehicles that had pulled on to the hard shoulder.

Station Manager John Bull said: "Fire, police and ambulance vehicles all use the hard shoulder to gain access to incidents. When people stop on the hard shoulder, it poses additional problems for the emergency services at a time when they already have their hands full.

“When there is a collision on the motorway, tailbacks build very quickly. The longer it takes emergency services to arrive on the scene, the longer the tailbacks will get.

"We appreciate that if you are going to be stuck at the scene of a collision for some time, you don't want to be sitting in your car all that time. But it is important to keep away from the hard shoulder, and not to leave car doors open if they are overhanging the hard shoulder."

A man and a woman were injured in the crash, which involved two cars on the east southbound section between Handy Cross and Loudwater. Two crews from High Wycombe and one from Beaconsfield were called at 8.46pm.

Firefighters frequently come across the following obstacles when attending motorway crashes:

• Vehicles pulling on to the hard shoulder and stopping.
  
  
• Vehicles leaving very little space between them and the vehicle in front, meaning there is little room for manoeuvre if the emergency services need them to move.
  
  
• People getting out of their vehicles and wandering about on or near the hard shoulder.
  
  
• People in the inside lane leaving nearside doors open for ventilation.

Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service and Thames Valley Police have produced the following advice for motorists caught up in tailbacks following a collision ahead:

• Unless you have broken down, remain in your car in the carriageway lane you are driving in.
  
  
• Be aware that the emergency services may need to pass, and be ready to react as directed.
  
  
• Make sure you leave enough space around your vehicle so you have room for manoeuvring when the emergency services pass.
  
  
• Do not use the hard shoulder as you may be obstructing emergency services from getting to the scene which would cost someone’s life.
  
  
• Apart from being illegal, it is very dangerous to leave the motorway via entry slips. Other emergency service vehicles may still be using these entry slips and not expect traffic coming towards them. Thames Valley Police have successfully prosecuted motorists for leaving the motorway in this way.
  
  
• Anyone who has been taken ill while sitting in a tailback for considerable time will receive assistance and should call police or the Highways Agency and will be helped as a priority - but please don’t make unnecessary calls.
  
  
• Police and the Highways Agency keep local and national radio stations aware of any tailbacks on motorways and how long they may take to clear, so please switch on your radio on updates.