INCIDENT MANAGEMENT
- when parked on the hard shoulder the vehicle appears as though it could be emerging from the hard shoulder and is more likely to arouse caution from an approaching motorist;
- provides the occupants with a better view of approaching traffic when looking to get out of the vehicle; and
- provides a better view of approaching traffic over the vehicle’s bonnet and enables occupants to be better aware of approaching danger.
Disadvantages:
- rear lights and markings aimed towards the hard shoulder;
- when parked on the hard shoulder, approaching motorists may be inclined to react by slowing or changing lanes having wrongly assumed that the vehicle is emerging from the hard shoulder;
- driver is exposed to a direct impact from an errant vehicle;
- when on the hard shoulder, if struck, the vehicle is more likely to be projected into live lanes; and
- the errant vehicle may then breach the safety zone.
VEHICLE PARKED IN "FEND IN" POSITION
Advantages:
- fills the lane and therefore provides a line of defence;
- provides a forewarning that the vehicle is stationary;
- driver not exposed to direct impact on exiting vehicle; and
- when parked on the hard shoulder, if struck it will minimise the likelihood of the vehicle being projected into the live carriageway.
Disadvantages:
- rear lights and markings are aimed towards the central reservation;
- when "fend in" is used whilst parked on the hard shoulder, and a near side barrier or wall is present, if the vehicle is struck it is more likely to collide with the barrier and then continue to travel along the hard shoulder alongside the barrier. At high speeds this could result in the vehicle breaching the safety zone;
- visually the vehicle gets smaller as approaching vehicles draw nearer;
- with the vehicle in the "fend in" position it tends to obstruct the operative’s view of approaching traffic when returning to the vehicle; and
- the presence of a near side ditch or embankment may cause the vehicle to turn over if struck.
VEHICLE PARKED "IN LINE" Advantages:
- rear facing warning lights are most visible;
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