What is a motorway EA? and why were they introduced?

Emergency areas (EAs) were first introduced on so called ‘smart motorways’ following the removal of the hard shoulder on these ‘all-lane-running motorways’, in order to ensure that motorists have somewhere to pull off the main carriageway in the case of an emergency. You will find these emergency areas at regular intervals along smart motorways...

Signposted as ‘SOS’ lay-bys they are set on the left side of the left-hand motorway lane and marked by signs saying ‘Emergency area’ …but do you know what is an emergency?

An emergency area is a defined as ‘a place of relative safety’. So it follows that an emergency is essentially only to be used when your vehicle has broken down or you have been involved in a collision.

What must you do when using an EA? And when should you not use an EA?

First you should stop your vehicle wholly within the EA (at the marked stopping point where possible) and as far away from the main carriageway as you can and then switch on your hazard warning lights.

You should NOT use an EA;

If the emergency area is already occupied with another broken-down vehicle(s).

If it would clearly be a better decision to take the next motorway exit, instead.

If (for whatever reason) it would be unsafe for you to attempt to enter the EA (ie. you cannot safely cross the other motorway lanes due to the volume of traffic)

When you are stationary in the EA.

All passengers should exit the vehicle via the vehicle left-hand side doors (wherever possible) and then stand behind the crash barrier, as far away from passing traffic as is possible. 

You should use the SOS telephone provided, to call National Highways. (only use your own phone to call your your own breakdown service if the SOS telephone isn’t working for any reason)

Then wait for roadside assistance to arrive.

Do not attempt any repairs to your vehicle no matter how minor they may seem to be.

How to safely rejoin the main carriageway…

An EA is a very short lay-by and certainly not long enough for you to build up speed before re-joining the motorway. So, if a Highways Traffic Officer is not in attendance with you, then before leaving the EA you must make contact with Highways Authority Regional Control Centre using the SOS phone. A Traffic Officer will attend or a red 'X' signal will be set, to help you to return safely onto the motorway. You must not attempt to leave the EA until you have permission from the control centre or the traffic officer.

Are EAs safe? 

The introduction of EAs has proved very controversial and there are on-going campaigns for the reintroduction of hard shoulders as a result of fatal and serious accidents which have occurred and which may have been avoided if the hard shoulder had not been removed. Following this campaigning National Highways has now agreed to ensure that EAs are no more than 0.75km apart and a re-fitting of EAs to existing smart motorways is now beginning… 

But many motorists do not feel as safe using a smart motorway as when using a motorway with the traditional hard shoulder in place. 

To arrange an initial free telephone advice call upon any motoring matter, contact our motoring department on 01606 59 21 59.