Emergency areas on smart motorways in Yorkshire, England, are being turned bright orange to make them more visible for drivers.
Extra signs to show motorists the distance to the next area will also be provided and each area will have a marked out box to make it clearer for drivers to see where the ideal central stopping position is.
The move is part of an ongoing programme by Highways England to enhance emergency areas on smart motorways to make them as easy as possible to spot and to discourage drivers from using them in non-emergency situations.
“Smart motorways are as safe as traditional motorways, which are already among the safest roads in the world,” said Paul Unwin, Highways England Smart Motorways Programme Sponsor.
“We recognise that as well as being safe, drivers want to feel safe and we have and will continue to make some changes to the design of motorways.”
Emergency areas are set back from the carriageway to give greater protection than a hard shoulder and are designed to meet the needs of all the types of vehicles that use the motorway in the event of a breakdown.
