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Difficulty: MediumStopping and the Hard Shoulder

If a vehicle suffers a punctured tyre while travelling on a motorway, the driver is permitted to pull onto the hard shoulder and change the wheel themselves.

Answer: Answer

Answer

False. Drivers must never attempt DIY vehicle repairs, including wheel changes, on a motorway hard shoulder.
The statement is false. According to The Highway Code, drivers must never attempt even simple repairs, such as changing a punctured tyre, while on a motorway hard shoulder. Drivers must turn on hazard warning lights, ensure all occupants vacate the vehicle via the left-side doors, wait behind the safety barrier on the verge or embankment, and call for professional breakdown recovery.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the relevant motorway safety regulation under The Highway Code for vehicle breakdowns and maintenance on the hard shoulder.
Highway Code Rule 274 governs emergency breakdown procedures and restrictions on hard shoulders.
Motorway regulations strictly govern what activities are permitted in emergency areas to minimise collision risks.
2
Evaluate whether changing a punctured wheel on the hard shoulder is legally permitted.
Attempting even simple repairs, such as changing a tyre, on the hard shoulder is explicitly prohibited.
The proximity of high-speed traffic creates a severe risk of death or serious injury while working on the vehicle.
3
Determine the correct protocol to follow in the event of a tyre puncture on the motorway.
The driver must stop on the hard shoulder, switch on hazard lights, exit via the left-hand doors, wait safely behind the crash barrier on the embankment, and summon professional roadside assistance.
Professional recovery operators have specialist safety equipment and procedures to manage motorway hazards.

Key Concept

Prohibition of DIY vehicle repairs on the motorway hard shoulder
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Stopping and the Hard Shoulder

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