Using the road shoulder and emergency lane
Road shoulders and emergency lanes are for special situations. Here is how to assess them correctly as a driver.
The road shoulder and emergency lane are not designed for ordinary progress. They exist for safety, stopping and handling special situations, and misuse can create serious conflicts on motorways and larger roads.
What you need to know
- The emergency lane is primarily a safety area, not a shortcut around traffic queues.
- The shoulder may have worse grip, dirt and obstacles than the main lane.
- Stopping on the shoulder requires clear warning and an assessment of your own safety.
Typical situations
| Situation | What you should do | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Queue on a motorway | Stay in your lane and follow the traffic flow. | Driving onto the shoulder to get ahead faster. |
| Technical fault with the car | Move onto the shoulder or emergency lane if necessary and warn clearly. | Stopping partly in the traffic lane when you could have reached the shoulder. |
| Emergency vehicle approaching from behind | Give way in a safe and controlled manner. | Using the emergency lane without an overview or plan. |
Common mistakes
- Seeing the shoulder as a reserve lane.
- Forgetting the warning triangle and hazard lights when stopping.
- Underestimating the danger from traffic passing close by.
How to practice
Read this together with Hazard lights and warning triangle , Make way for emergency vehicles and Motorway vs expressway .