Added: 02/12/2006 |
Don`t Blame Motorway Service StationsYou pass junction after junction looking for refreshments, somewhere to stay or meet a friend or business acquaintence but fail to find one ? say drivers. But you know that things are just on the contrary ? there`re too much of motorway service stations, at least dozens in any motorway direction, so where is the problem? Firs of all, beginning with the fact that motorways are not only highways with miles of desert asphalt areas only, they are commonly used for ring roads around cities or bypasses of built-up areas ( examples of ring-road motorways the M25 around London, M6 Toll, bypassing Birmingham and Wolverhampton, which opened the M4 and M48, etc). And these parts of road are full of motorway service stations of all rates and tastes. The ?lack? of motorway service stations is observed because those which you find do not suit your demands. Some motorway service stations are out of date, others have no that or this desirable facility ( as baby ? sitting services) but most of them are simply expensive.
Massive complains on the motorway service stations resulted in a thorough research of their work lead by the Automobile Association. Verdict was as follows: among each 10 UK motorway service stations inspected, five were recognized as acceptable, three as poor and two as very poor. The Association policy director, said that UK motorway service stations and areas are doing a reasonable job of providing basic services for travelers, but of course they are far from benchmarked European service stations. Besides, high prices, low quality food and poor service make the UK's motorway service stations some of the worst in Europe, according to a BBC survey. Nearly all motorway service stations were considered poor for pedestrian safety in the car parks and although the range of food on offer was considered good, the quality was not. The UK was placed eighth out of nine countries surveyed, with Germany leading the way in first place and Spain coming out the worst. But of course devil is not so dark as it painted and this very research by the Automobile Association (AA) and other leading European motoring organizations praised the UK motorway service stations for their access roads, internal layout, signposting and shops.
But still it found them expensive with poorer service ? the survey highlights the high cost of operating a motorway service station in Britain as one of the reasons why prices are higher than in Europe. At least, if you happen to be riding a motorcycle and don`t want to thin the wallet, you'd best stand in the car park and munch your sandwich or packed lunch and drink your lukewarm coffee.We may complain the poor service and high prices, on the big companies who monopolise a market, but what can we do ? that is life. But let`s look at the problem from another side ? as a motorway service station staff sees it. Motorway service stations take such a high fee because they have to pay for the building and maintenance of entry and exit slip roads and often bridges and roundabouts on the main road network too. As for the standards of food, motorway service stations staff try their best and quite understand your complaints, but they give as much lee-way as possible. We are all people and need some understanding to each other. So next time, dropping in at a service station , just remember things are not always as they seem.
motorway service station
Article comments:
No comments for this article yet. Post your comment now!
