You're driving along the M25, the music is playing you casually look down at the dashboard. Immediately your eye catches a single word: 'Fire'.
Now what would you do?
Well if you were one particular gentleman then you'd instantly stop in the middle of the motorway and desperately sprint away from what you could only assume was going to be a Hollywood-style explosion as the fuel tanks caught light.
Except that didn't happen, firstly because Hollywood-style explosions don't happen in real life, and secondly the word 'Fire' was actually 'Set Fire To The Rain' by Adele playing on the radio.
Incredibly, that incident actually took place, and is one of just many hundreds that the Highways Agency have revealed showcasing the finest in British logic when it comes to stopping illegally on a motorway.
Other such gems include taking photos of a newborn child because it was such a 'lovely day'.
Reasons for stopping illegally on a motorway:
- Picking flowers
- Selling you car
- Renewing your insurance
- Having a nap
- 'Testing' your phone signal
With over 2000 instances of people illegally stopping the Highways Agency is keen to dissuade people from illegally stopping on the hard shoulder - something that's only ever allowed in emergencies.
Jamie Hassall, Highways Agency national enforcement co-ordinator, said:
“Every day, millions of people use our motorways. Most of them use the hard shoulder correctly and don’t ignore red X’s, but we are appealing to the few who put themselves, other road users, and those working on motorways at risk."