Breakdown and recovery work on a motorway is a tough job, and those who choose to do it accept this fact.
But it shouldn’t be fatal.
Within the last six weeks two people were killed doing just this work.
It’s prompted a safety campaign by the Professional Recovery Drivers Club, called Slow Down or Move Over.
It is accompanied by a petition to government to change the law so that drivers have to move into the next lane, where possible, when they see stranded vehicles. It would also help protect police, fire and ambulance workers.
The petition has already passed the 10,000 mark – at which point the government has to respond. When 100,000 signatures are reached, the government will debate the issue in parliament.
Cynics might say, why bother, nothing will change.
But, for 60 seconds of your time signing the online petition, you could be part of helping to make a real difference: That in years to come every recovery worker goes home to their family alive and uninjured.
The petition is at https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/202302
Years ago coal mining and construction used to be among the most dangerous occupations. It’s no longer so.
Today, if you work in breakdown or recovery, then on average every six days you or one of your colleagues will be killed or injured while at work.
It’s a shocking statistic. It shouldn’t be like this. With your support, the future can be better.
