Pedestrians reminded not to use the motorway as a short cut

PARTY going pedestrians are being reminded not to use the region’s motorway network as a short cut during the Christmas and New Year festivities.

The Highways Agency and the North West Motorway Police Group are warning anyone tempted to use the motorway as a short-cut home that it is illegal and dangerous – they would be risking serious injury or even getting themselves killed, and putting others at unnecessary risk.

Highways Agency Traffic Officers have been monitoring and patrolling the region's motorway network for around five years and have noticed a spike in incidents involving pedestrians on the region’s motorways over the festive period – typically dealing with around a dozen incidents every day.

Patrols of Highways Agency Traffic Officers from the North West Traffic Officer Service, who operate out of six outstations across the motorway network, are increasing their vigilance for pedestrians over the Christmas and New Year holiday period.

John McTaggart, the Highways Agency's Regional Operations Manager in charge of the North West Traffic Officer Service, said:- “The last thing we want is a Christmas tragedy because someone has decided to take a short cut home after a party by walking along the hard shoulder or across a motorway carriageway. As well as being dangerous, it is illegal for any pedestrian to be on the hard shoulder or any other part of the motorway network, including slip roads and roundabouts and of course the main carriageways. Incidents on the motorway network involving pedestrians who have no reason to be there in the first place are not only tragic but they also cause distress to our Traffic Officers and the emergency services - and hours of delays for legitimate motorway users. Our message for a happy and safe Christmas this year is stay away. Our Traffic Officer patrols and control room Traffic Officers will be increasing their vigilance over the next few weeks."

Inspector Andy Chandler from the North West Motorway Police Group, said anyone caught walking along the motorway network faced a £30 fixed penalty notice fine.  He said that:- “The hard shoulder is there for legitimate motorway users in the event of an emergency or breakdown. It is no place for pedestrians looking for a short-cut home. The motorway can be a hostile environment for people straying onto it at the best of times let alone in the middle of winter when, possibly ‘worse for wear’, the dark and cold and high speed vehicles can easily get the better of them.”

Public confused by councils’ ice and snow priorities

NEW research from older people’s charity, Independent Age, shows that the public has hugely unrealistic expectations of their councils to clear pavements this winter, which are, as a result, left untouched during these severe weather conditions. Thousands of older people subsequently find themselves at risk of injury or unable to leave their homes for days or weeks at a time as ungritted pavements are left covered in treacherous ice and snow.

According to the survey, half of us expect either local or national government to clear this winter's ice and snow from the pavements outside our homes, despite the fact that councils rarely grit more than a few of their main pedestrian areas. In reality, looking at a sample of 20 councils across England , gritting pavements is invariably considered a low priority as councils concentrate on keeping main roads roads moving.

Icy conditions present a very real problem to older people, many of whom struggle with their mobility. About a third of all people over 65 fall each year .

Independent Age is calling for councils to be clearer about what people can expect during the winter weather and for them to issue advice encouraging, rather than discouraging, people to lend a helping hand. It is vital that families and neighbours can understand the problems faced by older people, allowing them to step in and take action if necessary. That may mean helping to clear snow and ice themselves, offering a lift in a car, or offering to do the shopping for an older neighbour who may be struggling to get out.

"Our research shows that it's time for a grown-up debate between residents and councils about what is really going to happen during spells of snow and ice. With councils facing 27% cuts in funding over the next few years, we may all have to accept that their services are unlikely to expand and that we need to pull together as communities to help.” says Independent Age Director of Policy, Simon Bottery.

Do you agree with this?  Let us know your views by emailing us via:- news24@southportreporter.com.   Do you think our roads on Merseyside have been forgotten?   Have you had any good experiences of help offered by others, including the council as the snow and ice keeps its hold on our region?  Again do let us know...