Wedding saved after Ribble Valley Celebrant puncture on M6
Deborah Bootle, also known as the Ribble Valley[1] Celebrant, had been en-route to help a happy couple tie the knot in Ambleside when she was forced to pull over on the M6 and call for assistance.
Within moments, traffic officer Mark Pickering arrived at the scene and made sure Deborah was safe.
The traffic officer’s actions meant Deborah was able to get the tyre sorted and set off on her journey once again and make it to the ceremony she came close to missing.
Mark took swift action and closed lane one with a red X and cones while Deborah’s tyre was changed.
Deborah expressed her gratitude towards the traffic officer, acknowledging she would not have made it to the wedding on time without his assistance.
She said: “I am incredibly thankful to Mark for his prompt response and support.
"The wedding couldn’t have gone ahead without me, and I was getting more nervous that I wouldn’t make it.
“I often see traffic officers at the side of the motorway, and I hadn’t realised the immense responsibility and importance of their job. Mark’s help made all the difference.”
Mark, who has been a traffic officer with National Highways for six years, shared his passion for the role, emphasising his commitment to helping people in need and ensuring their safety on the roads.
He said: “I genuinely love my job. Assisting people in difficult situations gives me a sense of fulfilment.
"It’s rewarding to receive positive recognition at the end of a long shift. It was my pleasure to help Deborah and ensure she arrived at the wedding on time.”
On-road traffic officers are often first on the scene in an incident. Their priorities are to keep people safe and fully reopen the road as soon as possible.
They stop traffic to clear obstructions and spills, help remove broken-down vehicles, and support the police and other emergency services by managing road closures when there’s a serious incident.
Mark also highlighted the importance of red X signals on the motorway.
The red X is used to close lanes when an obstruction such as a broken-down vehicle is detected in the road ahead. Abiding by the signal is vital to avoid a potentially serious collision.
He said: “Red X signals ensure the safety of our road users. They indicate lane closures and potential hazards ahead.
"By complying with the red X, drivers can help prevent accidents and keep traffic flowing.
"It’s vital that we all understand the importance of the red X to keep everyone on the roads as safe as possible.”
National Highways duty on road service delivery manager, Roselynne Drew-Crowe, added: “This is only one example of the dedications and professionalism of traffic officers.
"They go above and beyond to assist road users in challenging circumstances every day. Each of our traffic officers always make decisions with safety and customer service at heart.”
References
- ^ Ribble Valley (www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk)