Sir, All over the motorway network one can now read on electronic information displays “Tiredness can kill. Take a break.”
If only there were adequate facilities on the motorways, this indisputably sensible exhortation might actually cut down the number of accidents. In France rest facilities are frequent and range from areas with just parking, toilets and a few picnic tables up to the full-blown motorway services which are almost the only option in the UK.
Here it is possible to drive from Oxford to Crawley using the M40, the M25 and the M23 without encountering a single place to stop. Only on the southern half of the M1 are rest areas at all frequent, but these are often so busy that rest is not an option. Anyone arriving at the Newport Pagnell service area on a Saturday afternoon to find it bursting with people using it as a coach holiday interchange would find remaining on the motorway less stressful.
This anti-tiredness campaign must be accompanied by either more decent rest facilities on the motorways themselves, or alternatively additional information on the electronic displays about easily reachable facilities off them.
Yours faithfully,
TONY TITCHENER,
5 Maurice Road,
Seaford, Sussex BN25 1BQ.
June 15.