Holidaymakers heading off on driving trips and car camping adventures this summer have been warned to avoid sleeping in a common roadside spot.
Darren Hoyle, a rural warden, patrols lay-bys and beauty spots across Northumberland and the Lake District.
During his four years keeping the area safe, he has identified one particular stop that could be dangerous for drivers to sleep.
‘A lot of people think they’re being clever by pulling into a quiet wooded lay-by,’ Darren said.
‘But those are the exact spots we deal with when break-ins, illegal dumping, or even wildlife problems occur.’
The warden added that although the roadside spot ‘might look peaceful’ he insisted they are ‘far from safe’.
Rules regarding car camping and overnight parking vary across areas, with national parks and nature reserves protected by local bylaws.
Aside from any dangers, sleeping in a car overnight in the wrong area could lead to fines or being moved on by authorities.
Holidaymakers heading off on driving trips and car camping adventures this summer have been warned to avoid sleeping in a common roadside spot
Darren Hoyle, a rural warden, patrols lay-bys and beauty spots across Northumberland and the Lake District
Darren also revealed that quiet lay-bys are dangerous because of the type of attention they attract.
The areas often have little phone signal and aren’t in the view of traffic and public passing by.
‘We’ve seen people wake up to broken windows, flat tyres, or worse having their personal belongings stolen while they sleep just metres away,’ he said.
Darren’s warnings come as people become increasingly interested in car camping, according to Show Plates World.
‘The internet makes car camping look easy,’ Darren said.
He added: ‘But many of the setups you see online come from countries like the US, where the rules and landscape are totally different.’
The warden admitted he understood why people were attracted to car camping, but ultimately deemed it wasn’t ‘worth the risk’.
He warned against opting for a ‘quiet wooded lay-by’ near forested areas
Darren said: ‘I understand the appeal — pulling over somewhere quiet and free. But it’s not worth the risk.
‘It might save you a few pounds, but it could cost you your safety or your car.’
He added: ‘We’ve had reports of animals scratching at vehicles or climbing onto bonnets.
‘You don’t want to be startled awake at 3am by a curious badger.’
This article was originally published by a www.dailymail.co.uk . Read the Original article here. .