Motorists have hit back after being given a seven point check list when driving on the M4 with some arguing the guidance is unjustified. It comes after more than 700 drivers broke down in the month of May.
Traffic Wales pleaded with vehicle owners to be better prepared when venturing on the busier section of the motorway but some have argued the guidance is unjustified.
Drivers who did not agree with the the advice produced on a checklist of seven things - with the acronym Flowers - were quick to vent their frustrations at the guidance.
Read more: All the planned M4 closures this week
The acronym stands for Fuel. Lights. Oil. Water. Electrics. Rubber. Self.
Traffic Wales wrote: " Not all, but most, could have been avoided. Breaking down is never a pleasant experience – Keeping your vehicle well-maintained will help keep you and others safe on the road."
But WalesOnline readers weren't entirely receptive of the guidance and have had their own say about it.
A number of readers questioned if the advice went far enough, Dave Crooke said: "Hopefully one of the things they plead motorway drivers not to do on the M4 is stop at Membury services eastbound. It’s absolutely bogging and the toilets should be bulldozed immediately."
Other sections of the M4 were also brought under question by Amanda Jane Loveday-Morris who said "The Welsh Government have avoided the appalling mess that is the tunnels at Brynglas. It costs this country billions in lost revenue as no one can get into Wales without delays. In business, delays cost money"
Steven Thomas believed the rising number of broken down cars on the motorway would only get worse, he said: "Just wait until the height of summer, when the city roundabouts get thrashed on a long run. There'll be steam and open bonnets everywhere."
Robin Griffiths reversed the guidance towards the Welsh Government Agency stating: "M4 drivers plead with the Welsh Government to sort the tunnels out at Newport and stop wasting more money talking about it - you have already wasted £150 million talking about it and still no road."
Other WalesOnline readers disagreed with the guidance suggesting it was the motorists at fault for breaking down on the M4. Paul Kleine argued a lot of blame was directed to car owners, he said: "You want consideration and equal road rights for cyclists, then make them pay road tax and insurance, for the idiocy many of them can be seen doing on roads of all kinds everyday. The fault is not always the car driver as always implied."
Some readers even had their own solutions for the problem, Damon Frere said: "Maybe Welsh Government could remove the 50mph restrictions on the M4 which in turn will improve the flow of traffic in the area and the amount of cars sitting in static queues will reduce, resulting in the decrease of breakdowns caused by vehicles overheating." His popular feedback was heavily supported by other readers.
Dennis Burn argued the M4 was having a knock on effect for other areas of the country saying "terrible road holding back investment in Welsh business, looks like the Welsh Government is blaming the motorist for their own total ineptitude".
Air pollution around the Newport tunnels was one of the biggest critiques in response to the guidance laid out by Traffic Wales. Gregory Willis argued: "If the so called Welsh Government suggest it then it’s probably flawed. Sort the motorway out and lift stupid speed restrictions made in the name of pollution."
Get stories like this straight to your inbox with our newsletters.
Find out about traffic and travel issues where you live:
