Rule 270 : Understanding Motorway Emergency Areas

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Highway Code Rule 270

📖 Rule 270 Full Regulations & Explanation

Rule 270 ↗
Emergency areas are located along motorways with no hard shoulder or where the hard shoulder can be used as an extra lane (see Rule 269 ↗) and MUST only be used in an emergency.

They are marked by blue signs with an orange SOS telephone symbol and may have orange surfacing.

Follow the requirements and advice in

Text shown in the rule image

Rule 270 : Understanding Motorway Emergency Areas

THESE AREAS ARE SITUATED ALONG

MOTORWAYS THAT HAVE NO HARD SHOULDER OR WHERE THE HARD SHOULDER CURRENTLY BEING USED AS AN EXTRA LANE .

EMERGENCY AREAS MUST ONLY BE USED IN THE EVENT OF A GENUINE EMERGENCY ; THEY ARE NOT FOR REST , MAP READING , OR NON - URGENT PHONE CALLS .

Identification Markers

Blue Informational Signage: Emergency areas are identified by blue signs to alert drivers of an upcoming or present refuge zone .

Orange SOS Symbol

The signs feature a prominent orange SOS telephone symbol , indicating the availability of emergency communication tools .

Orange Road Surfacing: These areas may be paved with orange surfacing to make the boundaries of the emergency zone highly visible to approaching traffic .