29/09/2018
SLOW DOWN and MOVE OVER
EDITORIAL - This report has now been edited to reflect the incident in a clearer light.
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NEWS: Recovery operator has miraculous escape on
A recovery operator has escaped without injury - after their vehicle was struck whilst attending an incident on the M1 in Northamptonshire this evening.
The recovery agent was working alongside Highways England traffic officers to clear a minor collision from the southbound carriageway of the M1 between Junctions 18/Crick and 17/M45 - near Watford gap.
Highways officers had implemented lane closures, and signals on approach the incident warnning of a blockage and lane restrictions - when, for reasons yet to be established, a vehicle breached the lane closure and collided with the rear of the recovery vehicle.
The incident happened on a stretch of recently completed "all lane running" motorway - meaning there is no permeant hardshoulder.
The recovery driver had lowered the platform on his truck and was in the process of loading the stricken vehicle when the collision happened.
Thankfully neither the recovery operator, the highways officers or the drivers involved were seriously hurt.
This is the eighth incident of the type this summer, and follows an alarming increase of serious incidents involving roadside workers and recovery operators.
In the last twelve months, four people have died and three others have been seriously hurt in collisions involving a vehicle striking a roadside recovery patrol.
The advice is clear. If you are approaching a stranded vehicle, a roadside recovery patrol, roadworker crew, or emergency vehicle with its beacons illuminated on a motorway or dual carriageway - please..
SLOW DOWN - reduce your speed.
MOVE OVER - move across to the next available lane, if safe to do so or give the incident a wider pass.