Motorist Angela Moffet models the free jacket with Darren Jolly

Darren Jolly, from Preston, had the idea when he heard about a young woman who was knocked down on the motorway.

Mr Jolly, who works for a Highways Agency contractor in Lancs and Cumbria, said: ""If somebody breaks down and we give them a jacket, they are safe."

The Highway Code advises drivers to wait away from their car and the hard shoulder if they break down.

Innovation forum

Mr Jolly, who works for Highways Agency contractor Amey Mouchel as part of an incident support unit, said he submitted the idea to the company's 'innovation forum'.

It is now being rolled out in the area to improve safety on the motorway network, the Highways Agency said.

Asrar Hussain, Highways Agency assistant route performance manager, said: "Broken down vehicles on the hard shoulder of the motorway leave their occupants in a vulnerable position and there have been a number of people killed or seriously injured.