Roadworks lifted for August bank holiday

The Highways Agency will help people make smoother and more reliable journeys over the August Bank Holiday weekend by suspending or completing more than half of its road projects on motorways and major A roads.

As part of the Agency's commitment to ease congestion and help drivers make their journeys more safely and reliably during this busy period, a total of 22 sets of roadworks have been completed and a further 31 are being suspended between 06:00 on Friday 28 August and 00:01 on Tuesday 1 September. Roadworks at 40 locations will remain in place for safety of roadworkers and road users.

Derek Turner, Director of Network Operations said:

"At this time of year a lot of people will be taking journeys they are not familiar with, so our advice is to plan your journey and make sure you check the conditions before you leave.

"We expect the roads to the main holiday centres, ports and airports will be busy so we're doing everything we can to help drivers with their journeys. We have removed as many roadworks as possible and provide a number of information services to help road users plan their journeys.

"It's also a good idea to take food and water with you, and a map, just in case you need to find an alternative route. You should also check your vehicle's tyres, oil, water and fuel before setting out and allow extra time to plan for breaks to complete your journey safely."

Before setting off, drivers can help prepare for their journey by tuning into the Highways Agency's Traffic Radio, available on DAB digital radio and at http://www.trafficradio.org.uk, or by visiting our website at http://www.highways.gov.uk. When stopped for a break, drivers can also check the road conditions using a mobile phone at: www.highways.gov.uk/mobile.

Driver fatigue is estimated to account for around one fifth of road traffic collisions on major roads, and is responsible for around 300 deaths per year. Drivers should take a break every two hours and share the driving whenever possible.

The list of suspended, completed and remaining roadworks is included after notes to editors.

Too Many Drivers Running Out of Fuel on East Midland's Motorways, says Highways Agency

The Highways Agency is calling on drivers in the East Midlands to check their fuel levels before setting off on journeys after more than 920 drivers broke down on our motorways over a 12-month period after running out of fuel.

Agency figures show that on the motorways in England as a whole 15,788 drivers ran out of fuel between 1 July 2008 and 30 June 2009 – an average of 43 every day. The largest number of fuel breakdowns were recorded on the M1 - a total of 1,975.

Breaking down on the motorway causes disruption to journeys and road users can put themselves and other drivers at risk. To reduce the inconvenience and also the hazards involved, the Agency, supported by the Driving Standards Agency, is calling on drivers to check their fuel levels before setting off on journeys.

The Highways Agency’s Director of Network Operations, Derek Turner, said:

“The number of people breaking down simply because they have run out of fuel is alarming. It’s not only hazardous to the driver and passengers, but to other road users as well, especially if the vehicle has to stop in a live lane.”

“We want drivers to be aware of the risks and also to encourage them to check their fuel level before they set off. It’s important that if you are travelling over long distances, that you continually monitor your fuel level.”

The Driving Standards Agency’s Director for Safer Driving, Trevor Wedge, said:

“Running out of fuel on a motorway can be a risky business. Stopping on the hard shoulder will place you and your passengers in a vulnerable situation that could be avoided.

“Make sure you have plenty of fuel for your journey before driving on to a motorway and don't let the fuel in your tank run too low. Fill up well before the gauge reaches empty and before the warning light comes on.

“Remember that driving at higher speeds, especially when overtaking, will use more fuel and there can sometimes be quite some distance between service stations. Don't be tempted to try to complete your journey on a low tank.”

The Agency’s traffic officers, who patrol the motorways, are also surprised at the number of road users who run out of fuel.

Northamptonshire traffic officer Mike Madeley, based at Watford Gap outstation said:

"Some drivers don't think about the inconvenience and the hazards they can cause. My colleague and I came across a tanker recently parked on the hard shoulder of the M1 between junction 16 and 17. It was carrying 33,500 litres of diesel, but when we asked the driver what the problem was, it turned out he had ran out of fuel himself."

Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire traffic officer Paul Williams, who patrols from Felley outstation, added:

"People are usually very embarrassed when they have broken down due to running out of fuel. The top excuses we hear are "the car display told me I had a few miles left", "my partner usually fills up the tank" and "someone else drove the car last night and did not replace the petrol they used."