Roadside rescue and recovery operators are to be offered smart motorway training in a bid to improve safety.
The new course – the Smart Motorways Awareness For The Roadside Rescue & Recovery Industry – is the first of its kind and has been developed by Highways England and the Network Training Partnership.
Operators will receive guidance on how to attend breakdowns or collisions on the smart motorway network.
In August, Highways England data revealed that breaking down in a live lane on an all-lane-running smart motorway is 216 percent more dangerous than doing so on a conventional motorway with a hard shoulder.
Earlier this month, we reported that the widow of a man killed on the M1 is suing Highways England, claiming the smart motorway is directly responsible for his death.
The one-day course will cover the working methods that enable recovery operatives to carry out their roles safely. Key principles include:
- Operators are NEVER expected to recover a vehicle in a live lane on a smart motorway.
- Highways England can close lanes and set speed limits to support recovery operators.
- Highways England can allocate traffic officers or call the emergency services to maintain safety.
‘Developed specifically for roadside rescue and recovery drivers’
Colin Stevenson, strategic partnership manager at Highways England, said: “The course has been developed specifically for roadside rescue and recovery drivers who use the motorway network and has been designed to aid practical, relevant training.
“Those completing the course will have a better understanding of the different types of smart motorways and how to formulate a recovery plan incorporating safe working practices when dealing with incidents on smart motorways.”
Chris Hoare, chairman of the Institute of Vehicle Recovery, added: “The Institute of Vehicle Recovery (IVR) has given its backing to the new smart motorways recovery vehicle awareness course, which gives all in the recovery industry a greater awareness of some of the additional considerations when working on a smart motorway.
“IVR’s previous collaborations with HE and other agencies produced the Life on the Edge 7 film and the SURVIVE Safety Rules, both of which are incorporated in the course. This collaborative approach of sharing best practice to deliver clear consistent messages, raises standards and ultimately provides a safer working environment for those operating in the vehicle recovery sector.”
Anyone wishing to enrol on the course should email Highways England.