Road safety campainers are calling for better motorway design, to reduce the number of accidents on the hard shoulder.

Every year, an average of 12 people are killed and hundreds more are injured in crashes in the emergency lane.

Police and breakdown services investigated the problem and came up with a number of recommendations for a report by Survive (Safe Use of Roadside Verges In Vehicular Emergencies).

Alistair Cheyne, director of AA Road Services, said: "National safety standards need to be developed to stop such tragic and needless loss of life."

The safety recommendations include:

• Extension of motorway lighting
• The upgrading of market posts and emergency telephone boxes
• The establishment of an industry standard for safe working practices for those working on motorways
• A public education programme to show the correct use of hard shoulders.

Liz Bennett of the Institution of Civil Engineers, which helped with the year-long investigation, said: "Road design has a important part to play in maximising the safety of the hard shoulder environment.

"We are working closely with all interested parties to ensure that the interests of the public are met by the design criteria."