Learn how to drive in bad weather

Rochdale motorists are being offered free bad weather driving lessons at two M6 motorway service stations this weekend.

The events have been organised by Highways Agency traffic officers who will be joined by officers from Lancashire Police and the Lancashire Partnership for Road Safety at Forton Services tomorrow and at Charnock Richard on Sunday.

They are being run as a way of telling travellers about the role of the traffic officers and the police and to advise on safer motorway driving, particularly in bad weather.

In Greater Manchester, the M62 is particularly prone to bad weather.

A car caught fire after crashing with another near Rochdale last week and a 50-year-old driver died last month after his car was hit by a lorry.

Linda Sanderson, communications manager for Lancashire Partnership for Road Safety, said: “Motorways are statistically much safer than other roads, but when an accident does happen, the results can be catastrophic.

“When the weather is bad, with reduced visibility and the risk of skidding due to surface water or ice and snow, it really does pay to slow right down.

“It is much better to get there late, than not at all.”

Highways Agency traffic officer David Nash, who has organised the event, added: “We are still only mid-winter but drivers have already had to face some very poor weather.

“These two events will be a timely opportunity for ourselves, the police and Lancashire Partnership for Road Safety to give some topical advice on safer driving.”

Forton Services is between junction 32 and 33 (Lancaster). Charnock Richard Services is between junction 27 and 28 (Standish). Both events run from 10am to 4pm.