A nationwide survey by the AA has revealed that 50% of drivers are unable to read driver location signs on motorways.
Placed every 500 metres on motorways and major A-roads, the signs are essential for location reporting in the case of emergencies or breakdowns.
10,491 drivers took part in the poll, with 35% simply responding with ‘I don’t know’, when asked about the meaning of the driver location signs.
9% thought the sign was the location number for an emergency phone, while 4% thought it was the distance to the next motorway exit.
2% of respondents to the survey thought it was a code used to schedule road maintenance.
The remaining 50% of drivers were able to correctly identify the purpose of the signs.
With heavy rainfall forecasted over the next few days, causing decreased visibility, and potentially heavier traffic, the AA has called for increased driver education on the meaning of the signs.
The top line shows the name of the road, with the letter ‘A’ below referring to the northbound direction, or clockwise in the case of the M25, and a ‘B’ representing the southbound, or anti-clockwise.
Slip roads may have other letters, such as J, K, L, or M, which refer to their specific location and direction.
The bottom line shows the distance since the beginning of the road, in kilometres.
On the M25, this distance is measured from the Dartford Crossing.
Shaun Jones, winner of AA Patrol of the Year, said: “If you find yourself broken down on the motorway, remember to only give the nearest marker location information on your side of the motorway.
“Don’t panic if you can’t remember how to read a driver location sign though, you can pass the information on to the relevant party who will know your location based on the numbers you provide.”
