Gloucestershire Police have confirmed that 20 motorists will face prosecution after using the hard shoulder on the M5 to avoid congestion following a serious collision, delaying ambulances and highways vehicles from reaching the scene.
Incident Details
The incident occurred on Sunday July 5 when a motorhome suffered a tyre blowout and overturned at junction 12 of the M5. Police stopped traffic to assist the occupants and clear debris from the carriageway.
While traffic was halted, numerous drivers illegally drove along the hard shoulder. Some claimed they thought it had been opened as a lane, others said they were following vehicles ahead, and some stated they wanted to leave at the next junction and queued on the hard shoulder.
Impact on Emergency Services
Police confirmed that the selfish actions delayed ambulances and highways vehicles from getting to the collision scene. Acting Sergeant Mike Turnbull from the Roads Policing Unit said: "Using the hard shoulder to avoid traffic is not only selfish – it’s illegal and drivers using the hard shoulder inappropriately will be prosecuted."
He added: "The Highway Code clearly states the hard shoulder must not be used for overtaking or avoiding congestion. Offenders can face fines, penalty points, and prosecution for the offence of driving or stopping on the hard shoulder."
Additional Offence
In addition to the 20 drivers prosecuted for hard shoulder misuse, one motorist will also face legal action for filming the collision on their phone while driving past.
Police Warning
Gloucestershire Police issued a full statement emphasising the dangers: "The hard shoulder is reserved for emergency use only – such as breakdowns or access for emergency vehicles. When drivers misuse it, especially during an active incident, they risk colliding with stationary vehicles, emergency responders, or even pedestrians who may be on foot near the scene."
The statement continued: "It also delays the response time of emergency services and increases the risk of secondary collisions."
