Pedestrians reminded not to use the motorway as a short cut

M62 Motorway

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, "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."