Half of UK drivers believe emergency roadside telephones no longer work

• Half of UK drivers are unsure or don’t think motorway Emergency Roadside Telephones are still functional, despite there being 8,551 operational across the UK
• Over two thirds (69 per cent) of drivers are unsure of how to locate the closest Emergency Roadside Telephone on a motorway in an emergency
• On average, callers can expect a response from an Emergency Roadside Telephone in less than 10 seconds (9.2 seconds)

Over half (56 per cent) of UK drivers are unsure or don’t think motorway Emergency Roadside Telephones are still functional, according to new research from Churchill car insurance¹. One in ten (11 per cent) believe that Emergency Roadside Telephone don’t exist anymore, even though there are still 8,551 in operation across the UK. Emergency Roadside Telephones are located for emergency use by the roadside, most commonly on motorways, and connect directly to traffic control centres or police control rooms.                                                            

Emergency Roadside Telephones can play a vital role in ensuring driver safety. A third of UK drivers have broken down in the past five years, with just under a fifth (18 per cent) reporting they had no mobile reception and a further 16 per cent reported no mobile battery charge.

Over two thirds (69 per cent) of drivers are unsure of how to locate the closest Emergency Roadside Telephone on a motorway in an emergency. This problem is exacerbated as drivers are unsure how Emergency Roadside Telephone s work, with over one in four UK adults admitting that they don’t know if they would connect them to an operator in case of an emergency.

There are 8,551 are Emergency Roadside Telephones² operational across the UK, including 6,961 in England, 922 in Scotland, and 668 in Wales. In Scotland and Wales, they are maintained every month or two months, while in England they are fully serviced every two years, but a daily reporting system means any faults should be rectified within 48 hours. 

Drivers looking for the nearest Emergency Roadside Telephone, can follow marker posts located at 100-metre intervals along the hard shoulder of a motorway. These will direct drivers to the nearest emergency telephone, which are situated at one mile (or 1.6 kilometre) intervals along motorways.  It’s important to take care while getting to and from an emergency phone by staying behind the safety barrier where there is one. On average, callers can expect a response from an Emergency Roadside Telephone in less than 10 seconds (9.2 seconds). 

Nicholas Mantel, Head of Churchill Motor Insurance, commented: “It is concerning to see that many people believe Emergency Roadside Telephones no longer work. These telephones are an effective way of seeking help when broken down. The telephones connect directly to contact centres and help pinpoint the driver’s exact location so that emergency services get to breakdowns as quickly possible.  It’s important that drivers are aware of and know how to locate the nearest Emergency Roadside telephones if they breakdown.”

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Notes to editors:   

1. Research among a nationally representative sample of 2,000 UK adults by Opinium between 9th - 12th July 2024 

2. Freedom of Information request submitted to National Highways, Transport Scotland and the Welsh Government in July 2024.  

For further information please contact:

Unni Henry 

PR Manager  

Email: unni.henry@directlinegroup.co.uk

Churchill

Founded in 1989, Churchill is now one of the UK's leading providers of general insurance, offering car, home, travel and pet insurance cover over the phone or on-line. Churchill general insurance policies are underwritten by U K Insurance Limited, Registered office: The Wharf, Neville Street, Leeds LS1 4AZ. Registered in England and Wales No 1179980. UK Insurance Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.   Churchill and U K Insurance Limited are both part of Direct Line Insurance Group plc. Customers can find out more about Churchill products or get a quote by calling 0300 200 300 or visiting www.churchill.com.