Gloucestershire Police have announced that 20 drivers will be prosecuted for illegally driving on the hard shoulder of the M5 motorway during a crash incident at junction 12 on Sunday, July 5th. A motorhome’s tyre blew out, causing it to overturn and injure the occupants, who required medical attention.
The motorway was closed while emergency services cleared debris and attended to those involved, but despite the closure, several motorists chose to drive on the hard shoulder. This unauthorized use delayed paramedics and National Highways teams from reaching the scene promptly.
Drivers offered various explanations for their actions: some mistakenly believed the hard shoulder had been opened as an additional lane, others followed vehicles ahead, and some claimed they used it to queue for the next junction exit.
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Gloucestershire Police stressed that the hard shoulder is strictly reserved for emergencies, such as breakdowns or authorized emergency vehicles. Misusing it not only delays critical response times but also endangers responders, stationary vehicles, and pedestrians near the incident.
In addition to the 20 motorists prosecuted for hard shoulder misuse, another driver will face prosecution for filming the crash on a mobile phone while driving past.
Acting Sergeant Mike Turnbull of the Roads Policing Unit emphasized: “Using the hard shoulder to avoid traffic is illegal and selfish. The Highway Code clearly states it must not be used for overtaking or bypassing congestion. Offenders can expect fines, penalty points, and prosecution.”