Police have issued a stern warning for motorists to ‘get out of your vehicle if you break down’ after a picture of a wrecked car showed just what can happen.
Essex Police released the photo after a van drove into a car from behind after it had broken down.
The message accompanying the photo, that was released on Twitter, said "Always get out to safety if you break down in a dangerous place.”“Sadly, a van driver wasn't paying attention and collided into it, propelling both into the bushes," the force added in a second tweet carrying an image of the equally wrecked van.
There were no serious injuries reported and the van driver is being prosecuted for careless driving.
The RAC said 80% of drivers would "unknowingly put themselves in danger" after breaking down on the motorway by stopping on the hard shoulder and staying in their car or standing either next to, or in front of their vehicle.
Only a fifth of those surveyed would do the correct thing – leave your vehicle and stand behind it well out of the way of traffic and behind a barrier.
The data reflects reports from nearly 200 RAC patrols which stated 78% of broken down motorists were still in their vehicles when the RAC arrived.
