Is it illegal to change a tyre on a motorway hard shoulder??

slinky2000 · 04-05-2011 09:17PM #1

Can someone answer this for certain?

I'm nearly 100% sure it is illegal in the UK but I'm not sure about here in Ireland.

Thanks

cml387 · 04-05-2011 09:28PM

I can't see anything in the RSA rules that says it's illegal.

Iwannahurl · 04-05-2011 09:33PM

I would have thought that a tyre blowing at 120 kph on a motorway would be a legitimate reason for using the emergency lane, or whatever it's called in this country.

What are motorists required to do in such situations, according to the UK rules?

mickdw · 04-05-2011 09:35PM

No way would I even sit in the car on the hard shoulder for any period of time much less be on my knees with my legs near the driving lane changing a tyre

cml387 · 04-05-2011 09:38PM

All I can see in the UK rules are for what to do in case of a breakdown.

The safe answer is to call for the breakdown people,and get all passengers out of the car and away from the road.
However,the OP's question is whether it's illegal to change a tyre.I don't think so.

AugustusMinimus · 04-05-2011 09:39PM

cml387 wrote: »

I can't see anything in the RSA rules that says it's illegal.

I didn't realise that the RSA are legislating.

Welease · 04-05-2011 09:41PM

I don't believe it's illegal in the UK, but the highway code recommends calling breakdown services because of the danger of being outside your vehicle on the hard shoulder..

robtri · 04-05-2011 09:43PM

in the uk it is defo agains the rules
Reg 14 of the Motorway Traffic Regulations in England and Wales or Reg 12 of the same act in Scotland forbids any repairs call police and wait

not sure here... but iirc it is illegal to stop and offer to help someone who has broken down......

cml387 · 04-05-2011 09:43PM

AugustusMinimus wrote: »

I didn't realise that the RSA are legislating.

Er,the RSA "Rules of the Road"

Welease · 04-05-2011 09:45PM

cml387 wrote: »

Er,the RSA "Rules of the Road"

I believe his point is.. the RSA don't make legislation (laws).. the Rules of the Road are an interpretation of the legislation.. and include some "rules" which don't exist in legislation (roundabout etiquette for instance).

challengemaster · 04-05-2011 09:46PM

cml387 wrote: »

Er,the RSA "Rules of the Road"

Which are just guidelines - If you want the actual laws, look up the road traffic acts

cml387 · 04-05-2011 09:51PM

robtri wrote: »

in the uk it is defo agains the rules
Reg 14 of the Motorway Traffic Regulations in England and Wales or Reg 12 of the same act in Scotland forbids any repairs call police and wait

not sure here... but iirc it is illegal to stop and offer to help someone who has broken down......

Since we are now having a debate about rules,offences and guidelines I still don't see where it is said that it is an offence to change a wheel on the motorway.You are certainly advised not to (correctly imv).

And a previous poster was correct (oops)

Yes it is under Reg 14 of the Motorway Traffic Regulations in England and Wales or Reg 12 of the same act in Scotland.

You MUST notify the Highways Agency Patrol or the police via the roadside phones or mobile and wait for them to attend.

The Highway code also states that you shouldn't attempt even the simplest roadside repair on the Hard-shoulder.

Seth Brundle · 04-05-2011 10:09PM

Kind of says it all IMO

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qXR16QDS8I

AugustusMinimus · 04-05-2011 10:45PM

kbannon wrote: »

Kind of says it all IMO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qXR16QDS8I

They have break down lanes on both sides ?

CiniO · 04-05-2011 11:04PM

Rules for Traffic on Motorways

33. (1) A driver on a motorway shall not—

( a ) drive a vehicle against the direction of traffic flow;

( b ) drive a vehicle on or across any part of the motorway which is not a carriageway;

( c ) stop or park a vehicle on any part of a motorway
....

(3) A prohibition imposed by sub-article (1) (c) shall not apply—

( a ) in the case of a vehicle which is stopped on a carriageway while it is prevented from proceeding by an obstruction, or

( b ) subject to sub-article (4), in the case of a vehicle which has been involved in an accident or is broken down.

(4) ( a ) on a motorway, the driver or other person in charge of a vehicle which has been involved in an accident or cannot proceed because of breakdown, mechanical defect or other emergency shall—

(i) as soon as, and insofar as, is possible, drive or move the vehicle from the carriageway on to the nearest available space to the left of the left hand edge of the carriageway so that no part of the vehicle extends on to the carriageway;

(ii) use the nearest available telephone as soon as possible to notify the Garda Síochána of the accident, breakdown or other circumstance which has necessitated the stopping of the vehicle on the motorway.

( b ) The driver or other person in charge of a vehicle to which this article applies shall not allow the vehicle to remain parked on the motorway for longer than is necessary and for this purpose shall accept an offer of assistance or service by a member of the Garda Síochána or by an employee or agent of a road authority.

Source: http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1997/en/si/0182.html#zzsi182y1997a33

According to above, after getting puncture, you have to park as far left as possible, and call the guards.
Nothing is stated that should forbid to change a wheel, but I understand that guards while contacted should request you to walk away from motorway, and wait for rescue, not change tyre yourself.

Voodoomelon · 04-05-2011 11:16PM

So if you got a puncture, ring the gardai, they then got a breakdown truck to tow you off the motorway? Thats the correct procedure?

Seems ridiculous to me to have so many people involved and in danger on the side of the motorway when you could pull right in and have the wheel changed in 5 minutes? How do they even get an automatic car with a puncture on the rear off the motorway or even onto the back of a truck without destroying the tyre?

bijapos · 04-05-2011 11:26PM

A puncture is not considered to be a breakdown, what they mean with "repair" is trying to fix a mechanical defect such as a burst radiator. The correct procedure is:

1. Park as far in on the hard shoulder as is reasonable/possible
2. Move all occupants away from the vehicle, to the other side of the barriers or up an embankment. If any hi-viz vests are available put these on.
3. Place warning triangle or light at a minimum of 100m from the vehicle (doesn't apply in Ireland bizzarely enough)
4. Inform relevant authorities of the situation.
5. If its a puncture you can fix it yourself after you have informed the authorities and if its safe to do so.

This is the recommended procedure in most European countries, I'm not aware of any where it is forbidden to change a tyre.

CiniO · 04-05-2011 11:29PM

Voodoomelon wrote: »

So if you got a puncture, ring the gardai, they then got a breakdown truck to tow you off the motorway? Thats the correct procedure?

Seems ridiculous to me to have so many people involved and in danger on the side of the motorway when you could pull right in and have the wheel changed in 5 minutes? How do they even get an automatic car with a puncture on the rear off the motorway or even onto the back of a truck without destroying the tyre?

It's funny to read in neighbour thread what people thing about using anything else than proper axle stand for doing any undercar work, and find anything else extremely dangerous, but at the same time don't see anything wrong with changing a wheel on the motorway.

Nowhere in civilised world, is allowed to change tyre on motorway.
Generally what I can see on Irish motorways is just a carnage with amount of people parking and doing strange things here.
Nowhere in Europe you can see anything even bit similar to what can be seen on Irish motorways.

Voodoomelon · 04-05-2011 11:39PM

You said it yourself, underwork. This is changing a wheel. If it was a narrow section of motorway, i'd think twice about it. But if there was a decent set back from the edge of the road, i'd probably have a stab at it.

slinky2000 · 05-05-2011 12:11AM

I'd certaintly do it myself but I was just wondering if it was actually legal or not. I tihnk I'll stick with my gut instincts and change it if it's safe!

Pkiernan · 05-05-2011 03:23AM

The PROPER and INTELLIGENT thing to do is to drive slowly to the next exit, get off the motorway and then change your tyre.

It amazes me how incredibly stupid people can be, valuing some poxy rim over their own lives.

If you drive nice and easy you won't even damage your rim.

Any other course of action is basically retarded (that includes parking on the hard shoulder and waiting for the Guards).

This thread can be successfully concluded now.

Marcin_diy · 05-05-2011 08:19AM

Pkiernan wrote: »

The PROPER and INTELLIGENT thing to do is to drive slowly to the next exit, get off the motorway and then change your tyre.

It amazes me how incredibly stupid people can be, valuing some poxy rim over their own lives.

If you drive nice and easy you won't even damage your rim.

Any other course of action is basically retarded (that includes parking on the hard shoulder and waiting for the Guards).

This thread can be successfully concluded now.

Yes - it is very safe and intelligent to drive 10km/h on 120km/h motorway

Seth Brundle · 05-05-2011 09:23AM

slinky2000 wrote: »

I'd certaintly do it myself but I was just wondering if it was actually legal or not. I tihnk I'll stick with my gut instincts and change it if it's safe!

IIRC there was a fatal crash a year or two ago on the M1 (I think) when a car pulled over to the HS was hit by another.
Its not safe!

keithclancy · 05-05-2011 09:52AM

Fook that ... I'd just stick the warning triangle out about 250 meters down the road and change the tyre.

05-05-2011 10:02AM

I have done it and would do it again. Calling breakdown services for a puncture, you must be joking.

I really think peoples fear of the hardshoulder in a motorway is over exaggerated. Its no more dangerous than any other hard shoulder and I prefer it to walking on the side of the road with no HS which people are doing all day everyday up and down the country.

I cant believe peoples responses actually.

Pkiernan wrote: »

The PROPER and INTELLIGENT thing to do is to drive slowly to the next exit, get off the motorway and then change your tyre.

It amazes me how incredibly stupid people can be, valuing some poxy rim over their own lives.
.

The chances of anything happening are tiny imo, Id risk it rather than ruin my tyre/rim.

smokie2008 · 05-05-2011 10:12AM

Pkiernan wrote: »

The PROPER and INTELLIGENT thing to do is to drive slowly to the next exit, get off the motorway and then change your tyre.

It amazes me how incredibly stupid people can be, valuing some poxy rim over their own lives.

If you drive nice and easy you won't even damage your rim.

Any other course of action is basically retarded (that includes parking on the hard shoulder and waiting for the Guards).

This thread can be successfully concluded now.

Satanta · 05-05-2011 10:59AM

AugustusMinimus wrote: »

They have break down lanes on both sides ?

Isnt that the carpool lane in the states?

IvyTheTerrible · 05-05-2011 11:05AM

I wouldn't change a tire on the side of a motorway in a fit...last year the head gasket in my car blew doing 130 on a motorway and just watching how the car moved when trucks went past at that speed gave me the willies.

whippet · 05-05-2011 11:09AM

I changed a tyre on the M50 a few weeks ago in rush hour traffic and being the driver's side wheel is was a scary operation !!!

I put the triange about 150 meters down the hard shoulder and faced the traffic while I was on my hunkers and I must admit it was the fastest change ever.

I had a total blowout and by the time I even got to the hard shoulder the tyre was almost entirely shredded.

I counted about 4 different garda cars driving past me as well.

blastman · 05-05-2011 11:23AM

Simliar to whippet, I had a driver's side tyre blow out on me on the M1 recently (brand new tyre, too, wasn't impressed!).

I managed to get across a couple of lanes and on to the hard shoulder. Luckily, where I pulled in had a small spot for maintenance vehicles off the hard shoulder itself, so I was well in off the main lanes. I wouldn't fancy having it happen very often, mind you.

stargazer 68 · 05-05-2011 11:27AM

My sister broke down on the M50. Think her timing belt went and she couldnt get across to the left hand lane and stopped in the middle lane. Hit her hazard lights. The amount of people flying past her flashing their lights and shouting at her - you think she had stopped for a fag or something!! :mad:

Eventually 2 cars stopped and guys got out and managed to push her car off the road so she could call the breakdown services. If they hadn't stopped to help who knows what would have happened.

Is it illegal to change a tyre on a motorway hard shoulder??

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