Poor quality service stations undermine safety campaign

The poor quality of motorway service stations is undermining a government initiative to encourage company car drivers to take regular breaks according to a leading motoring organisation.

GEM Motoring Assist claims the government’s Take a Break campaign is being compromised by a lack of relaxation facilities and expensive refreshments at UK service stations.

Now it says that the government should reduce the franchise cost of operating motorway services so that they can improve their offering at more competitive prices.

The group’s chief executive, Davis Williams, said the chains operating the service stations bombard the weary traveller with a spend, spend, spend culture and offer little in return.

He said garish shops, gambling arcades and ugly restaurants run by disaffected staff serving low quality food produced anything but the relaxing atmosphere drivers really need to refresh and revitalise them.

Williams went on to ask why they do not feature comfortable lounges with a quiet and peaceful atmosphere that do not demand you buy something all the time.

He added that the Department for Transport should put stronger controls on the massive groups operating chains of service stations to change their attitude and make it economically viable for them to do so.