motoring

that motorists should conduct pre-journey vehicle checks to minimise the risk of a breakdown. The results of the survey come a week after a Sheffield coroner ruled the deaths of two men on the M1 in 2019 as an avoidable fatality, if the stretch of motorway had a hard shoulder. Coroner David urpeth is leading calls for a review into the safety of smart motorways, following the deaths of two men on 7 June 2019 when a lorry crashed into their cars on a stretch of the M1 that had been converted to a smart motorway. Recording a verdict of unlawful killing at Sheffield Town hall on 18 January, urpeth said: “Such road layouts present an ongoing risk of future deaths and i will write to highways England and transport secretary grant Shapps to request a review.” The two men had exited their vehicles to swap insurance details after colliding with each other. had there been a hard shoulder for this exchange to take place safely, the inquest heard, the pair sadly may have survived the incident. The lorry driver has admitted causing the pair’s death by careless driving, for which he was imprisoned last year, but the BBC reports that he told the inquest: “if there had been a hard shoulder on this bit of motorway, the collision would have been avoidable. “if the inside lane not been used for traffic, i would have driven past these two cars, as it would be safer, and they would have been able to come home safely and i would be able to come back home”. Sergeant Mark Brady of South yorkshire Police concurred: “had there been a hard shoulder, had Jason and Alexandru pulled on to the hard shoulder, my opinion is that Mr Szuba would have driven clean past them.” responding to the verdict, highways England said it was “determined” to improve safety on smart motorways. Source: Autocar

KEEP IT LOCAL

Six great reasons why you should take your car to High Bank Service Station

1. Fully guaranteed servicing, repairs and diagnostics on all vehicle makes and models using the very latest diagnostic and test equipment

2. MOT testing for all cars, Class 7 vans and campervans

3. Main dealer level support which does not affect your vehicle’s warranty

4. All the convenience of using a garage close to where you live…. and at prices below those of main dealers

5. We are a family-run business offering an honest, reliable, high quality service… and free advice on all aspects of motoring

6. Customers have the comfort of knowing that every job is supported by the strength and resources of the Tavern Group “I’m Carl from High Bank Service Station and I know that when you need an MOT, Service or Repair to your vehicle, you have a choice – the main dealer, a big garage group or your local garage”.

So why spend more than you have to? Do what our customers do... bring your car to us. All our six garages offer the same quality service.