WE 4 YOU
ASTM-SIAS Motorways are equipped with lay-bays and parking areas where, if needed, you can station in full safety. Sometimes, however, an irreparable damage may leave you mid-way between two lay-bays, which means you are forced to stop along the emergency lane or even just on the edge of the road, in case of breakdown or sudden illness of the driver. According to the Road Code, you are allowed to stop on the emergency lane to cope with the emergency, but in no case for more than 3 hours. Actually, a stop along the edge of the road need to be surely much shorter than that, as it is an extremely dangerous situation, due to the difference of speed between ap- proaching vehicles and pedestrians. It is crucial to stop as close on the right as possible, using light indicators, and make yourself visible by wearing reflective jackets before getting out of the ve- hicle - this means you must have it at hand inside the cabin, and not in the boot. In case of poor visibility, everyone inside the ve- hicle should get out of it and stay as close to the right edge of the road as possible, to prevent them from being run over or in- jured. If possible, the passengers should find a safe place beyond guard rails - but watch out before stepping over it, above all at night: you might be on a road bridge or an overhead road! Pe- destrian must never enter the lane. They can walk on the emer- gency lanes only to reach an emergency phones station.
When?
All the time during emergency stops.
What?
If you are stationed on the emergency lane or on the edge of the motorway, or even in a lay-bay, try to stop your vehicle as far as possible from the lane where vehicles are travelling. Never cross the virtual border between safety and carelessness. Always wear your reflective jacket, press the emergency indicator button, secure all passengers, and constantly monitor children.
Why?
Speed difference is a great danger. Motorways are much safer than other kinds of roads, not only because there are no crossroads and pedestrians, but also because vehicle speed is rather even. This is why great motorway facilities such as Turin- Milan, Savona-Ventimiglia motorways and others have experi- enced years with no fatalities. When a vehicle is on an emergency stop, speed difference is huge, and much higher than on other kinds of roads. Remember that drivers might be inattentive or may not see you. As a result, you could be run over, or vehicles could be forced to swerve to avoid you. Sometimes even blasts might be enough to make you stumble, or inattentive drivers may approach too much or even cross the right edge line. Facilities and security systems alone don’t make motorway 100% safe: the attention and common sense of users are the key ingredients. Underestimating a risk or be inattentive might have a very high cost for yourself and the others.