Motorways & Multi-Lane Carriageways PDF

CERADL3 Motorways & Multi-Lane Carriageways  Safe driving on motorways and other fast moving multi-lane carriageways depends on developing your awareness of the extra hazards that arise on these roads and rigorously applying the driving competencies explained and taught to you. London...

CERADL3 Motorways & Multi-Lane Carriageways  Safe driving on motorways and other fast moving multi-lane carriageways depends on developing your awareness of the extra hazards that arise on these roads and rigorously applying the driving competencies explained and taught to you. London Ambulance Service NHS Trust 2 Human factors The nature of motorway driving increases a number of human factor risks: Tiredness or boredom on long journeys – resulting in low concentration Frustration arising from stop-start progress in dense traffic Complacency in low-density traffic making drivers less alert to potential hazards The behaviour of drivers entering or leaving the motorway from service stations or slip roads. London Ambulance Service NHS Trust 3  Who can use a motorway? London Ambulance Service NHS Trust 4 Driving on motorways Motorways have specific features some of which apply to multi- lane carriageways and must be taken into account by the driver: Slip roads for entering and leaving the motorway Dangers created by the presence of the hard shoulder or its absence Legal restrictions on which types of vehicles can use motorways, and the designated speed limits for each. London Ambulance Service NHS Trust 5 Driving on motorways The driver needs to be aware / consider the following whilst on a motorway: Junctions are always numbered Signs are always blue Right hand lanes are for overtaking Entering & exiting a motorway almost always involves a slip road Speed limit is 70mph Hard Shoulder Overhead gantries. London Ambulance Service NHS Trust 6 Driving on multi-lane carriageways The driver needs to be aware / consider additional hazards on multi-lane carriageway: Junctions to the right and left Roundabouts Slow moving vehicles Hard shoulder? Potential presence of pedestrians Cyclists. London Ambulance Service NHS Trust 7 Carriageway Layout Hard shoulder Overhead gantry Slip road Central reservation Hazard line Lane marking. Lane 1 Lane 1 Lane 2 Lane 3 Lane 4 Lane 3 Lane 2 London Ambulance Service NHS Trust Reflective road studs Central reservation Slip road Hard shoulder Lane markings. London Ambulance Service NHS Trust 9 Joining the carriageway 1. Observe traffic on the carriageway to establish the speed / density of traffic 2. Establish entrance point onto the Carriageway - Signal right 3. Alter speed based on your chosen entrance point 4. Mirrors / shoulder check 5. Avoid driving over solid white lines and chevron road markings 6. Access carriageway into left lane. London Ambulance Service NHS Trust 10 Whilst on the carriageway Allow time to adjust to the speed and volume of traffic Look ahead and behind right up to the road horizons Scan frequently Use your mirrors regularly Always know what is going on behind you Be aware of your own and other driver’s blind spots Be prepared to move your body and alter vehicle position for better vision Monitor what is happening to your vehicle – instruments, speed and abnormal engine or road surface noise. London Ambulance Service NHS Trust 11 Whilst on the carriageway Anticipate and plan early – adopt a safe following position Use all controls smoothly (especially when travelling at speed) Signals before making a manoeuvre Only use a headlight flash to warn other road users of your presence Good lane discipline is essential for safe motorway driving Overtake on the right (except when traffic is moving in queues and traffic queues to the right are slower than you are). London Ambulance Service NHS Trust 12 Breakdown procedure Multi-lane carriageway Motorway Go left (verge / lay-by / hard Go left (hard shoulder / shoulder) emergency refuge area) Exit vehicle by side furthest Exit vehicle by side furthest from traffic (high-vis) from traffic (high-vis) Warning triangle (45m) No warning triangle Call for assistance (mobile Call for assistance (emergency phone) telephone) Consider hazard warning lights Consider hazard warning lights. London Ambulance Service NHS Trust 13 Overtaking Avoid overtaking prior to an Look for early signs a driver acceleration lane might overtake: Avoid forming a third line of Head and body movements vehicles abreast Vehicles moving towards the lane lines Consider leaving a one lane gap when overtaking large Closing gap to vehicle in front vehicles Avoid moving to a lane alongside a vehicle in the Be aware of other drivers’ adjacent lane. blind spots London Ambulance Service NHS Trust 14  Approaching carriageway junctions Plan early for vehicles potentially leaving or joining the carriageway: Consider adjusting your speed Consider changing lanes, but do not force another vehicle to change course or speed Look for early clues that traffic may be joining. London Ambulance Service NHS Trust 15  Leaving the carriageway Unless dictated to by the traffic ahead avoid braking in lane 1 If traffic behind you is light, consider using acceleration sense in lane 1 to avoid heavy braking in the exit slip road (deceleration lane) Be alert for acute bends at the end of slip roads Be aware of other drivers attempting to leave from lanes 2 or 3 at the last minute In queuing traffic beware of vehicles using the hard shoulder to extend the slip road. London Ambulance Service NHS Trust 16 Leaving the carriageway The first exit direction sign is the recommended starting point If the carriageway is busy enter lane 1 sooner rather than later By the half mile direction sign you should be in lane 1 At the three hundred count down marker check the mirror and consider a signal. London Ambulance Service NHS Trust 17  Having left the carriageway Check your speedometer regularly 30 miles per hour now seems like 13 miles per hour. London Ambulance Service NHS Trust 18  Smart motorways A system of road operation which: Assists the driver Promotes safer driving conditions Promotes more economic driving conditions But does it? London Ambulance Service NHS Trust 19  Smart motorways Three types: Controlled All lane running Hard shoulder running (dynamic) Gantries every 800-1000m show signals above each lane. London Ambulance Service NHS Trust 20 Road traffic incidents Serious or fatal RTCs are a crime scene. However, this should not interfere with your care and treatment of patients Minimum PPE includes: Hi-Vis (which must be fastened) Hard hat. London Ambulance Service NHS Trust 21 Approaching the incident When using the hard shoulder to reach the scene of the incident: If the traffic on the carriageway is moving, consider using visual warnings only If the traffic on the carriageway is stationary, use audible and visual warnings and beware of passengers leaving their vehicles. London Ambulance Service NHS Trust 22 Positioning of vehicle at an incident If you are first on scene at an incident on a main carriageway, you may have to place your vehicle in one of the following positions: In-line Fend-off Fend-in This is extremely hazardous and should be performed with the utmost caution. London Ambulance Service NHS Trust 23 In-line position Stop 50m before the incident Park straight in the hard shoulder with the wheels facing in (if no barrier) Switch off forward facing lights (where possible) Use rear lights and hazard lights Keep rear doors closed when possible Walk behind barrier if possible. London Ambulance Service NHS Trust 24 Fend-off position The vehicle used for “fend off” must be 50m back from the incident using all rear visual devices Position vehicle to afford maximum view of rear visual devices and Hi-Vis markings If fending off a single lane, park at a slight angle. Do not intrude into adjacent lane. London Ambulance Service NHS Trust 25 Fend-off position If fending off two lanes: Park at an angle to obstruct both lanes Do not intrude into the clear lane Once in the “fend-off” position, only return to the vehicle if absolutely necessary. London Ambulance Service NHS Trust 26 Fend-in position The vehicle used for “fend in” must be 50m back from the incident using all rear visual devices Position vehicle to afford maximum view of rear visual devices and Hi-Vis markings. London Ambulance Service NHS Trust 27  Protected incident parking Scene already protected by Highways, Fire or Police Ambulance to be parked at the front of the incident Within the coned off area Allowing easy access to patient and easy egress for vehicle. London Ambulance Service NHS Trust 28  Motorway collision London Ambulance Service NHS Trust 29 Safety When approaching an incident on the opposite carriageway, ALWAYS continue to the next junction and return on the correct carriageway The ONLY exception is when directed by a uniformed police officer or a Highways Agency Traffic Officer. London Ambulance Service NHS Trust 30 Safety Always wear PPE Never stop on the opposite carriageway to an incident Never drop off a crewmate to cross the carriageway to attend an incident. London Ambulance Service NHS Trust 31 General safety reminders Maintain lane discipline at all Plan your route in advance, times know your intended exit Maintain a safe following Ensure you have sufficient fuel distance at all times for the journey Always be able to stop in the Be alert and take active steps to distance you can see to be prevent boredom and fatigue clear Concentrate fully and use your Do not walk on the carriageway mirrors often Do not reverse along the Give signals in plenty of time carriageway Understand the meaning of road Do not rubberneck but markings, matrix and gantry anticipate other drivers slowing signs. down to have a look London Ambulance Service NHS Trust 32  Any questions? London Ambulance Service NHS Trust 33