According to the Daily Telegraph, an independent review will be conducted to rate the motorway service stations, similar to the ratings conferred to the hotel industry.
The Highway Agency is also planning to develop these service centers into multi-use facilities offering amenities like conference centers, coach interchanges, general and specialized parking, overnight parking for motor homes and child-care facilities, according to the news source.
Commercial space will be constrained, so as to discourage the service areas from becoming destinations in their own right. One of the focus areas in the re-development of these facilities will be to reduce driver fatigue by encouraging them to take more breaks on longer journeys, reported the Daily Telegraph.
Tom Harris, the minister for roads, as quoted by the news source, said: Falling asleep at the wheel is the cause of around 20% of accidents on major roads. By improving the facilities, we want to encourage drivers to take breaks more frequently.
