Why is the breakdown lane on a motorway called a hardshoulder?

Question

Why is the breakdown lane on a motorway called a hardshoulder?

Answer 1

it's so called because for many years, roads were unpaved, and the ones that were paved only had a grass or earth verge. when tarmac became the norm for paving roads, the idea to include an 'emergency' refuge of hard paving was adopted, and this was incorporated into motorway design. popular belief follows the idea that the term hardshoulder was a derivative of hardship, i.e. somewhere out of the flow of traffic in case of breakdown or hardship. you can probably get the exact origin from the highways website.

Answer 2

because its something to cry on when you break down, everybody needs a shoulder to cry on

Answer 3

Because it's paved. Otherwise it would be a "softshoulder", where, following a heavy shower, you might not be able to jack up your car because the ground might give way.

Answer 4

Because it is just that  and up to road standard. It is  not a soft verge

Answer 5

When its paved, its a hard shoulder. A soft shoulder is just dirt or grass or gravel.

Answer 6

because if you break down its a hard "shoulder" to cry on lol

Answer 7

Motorways were invented in the 1920's, the first one running from Cleethorpes to Glasgow in 1922. The company employed to construct it was Bovis & Co.,Ltd, and the two directors of that company were Stuart Harde and Edwin C Shoulder. The 'side carriage' as it was then called was renamed in their honour in 1930.

Hope this helps.