Traffic police were stunned to find three lorries parked on the exit slip road at Junction 10a of the M20 in Ashford as the drivers took their legally required breaks. The incident occurred on Wednesday morning, leading to swift action by officers.
Kent Police tweeted about the situation at 6:30 am, stating, “The drivers of these three HGVs thought it was acceptable to take their breaks on the exit slip road at Junction 10a. Our roads policing unit didn’t.”
The officers promptly fined the three truck drivers and issued GFPNs (graduated fixed penalty notices). The lorries were ordered to be moved immediately to ensure the safety and smooth flow of traffic.
HGV drivers are legally required to take a break after four-and-a-half hours of driving to ensure they do not become overly fatigued, which can lead to accidents. However, taking breaks on a motorway slip road poses significant risks to both the drivers and other road users.