Anybody who uses the so-called `Smart` motorways, M6, 60, 62 etc, (so that`s everyone) I really suggest you watch the Panorama from Monday night on catch-up. It`s really, really scary, for e.g. near misses on one section rose from 72 pre. Smart to 1400+ after. Typical time to remove you from a live lane = 34 minutes - and for half that time there will be NO warnings downstream!
I`ve never ever worried about driving on motorways before, I`ve never broken down on one, but I`ve ordered a couple of strobe warning lights now - slap it on the roof, jump over the barrier and pray!!!
This type of thing https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07 ... UTF8&psc=1
And just to pre-empt Jason, yes you could indeed put your mother in law in the boot to absorb some of the impact!
Me and the missus popped up to Yorkshire last weekend and there is a stretch of the M1 with roadworks for 27miles !!! No carriageway widening so has to be for Smart Motorway. We were shocked as there are long sections on the M1 now with no hard shoulder or instead one of these dual purpose nearside Lanes. What the hell are you supposed to do when you break down with the hard shoulder being a live lane in poor driving conditions and no barrier even. Just so scary. Clamber up the little grass bank and get well away. There are lots of these SOS Laybys on the M1 now too with the telephone for help. How the hell you are supposed to rejoin the carriageway with absolutely no "run in" Lane as there is no hard shoulder. You just pull straight out into the main nearside lane. Even the A1 Laybys have a longer length stopping points but these can be scary too if you get a lorry taking up half of it therefore reducing your run out.
I was born a Fordoholic, They'll bury me a Fordoholic...
pbar wrote: ↑Wed Jan 29, 2020 1:09 pm
Are they not illegal for a normal road user Steve?
I don`t know TBH, obviously blue is, but amber? Can`t see why, especially on a stationary vehicle, to warn others, anybody would worry about that. Firstly I hope I never need to use it, secondly if I did break down I`d rather take that chance than risk the car being written off.
stevemarl wrote: ↑Wed Jan 29, 2020 3:13 pm
I`d rather take that chance than risk the car being written off.
Fair enough yes. I did have a quick look, can't find anything saying that they are legal to be honest, other than road maintenance vehicles and the like.
Knowing the laws in this country, if you did ever use it in desperation, you would still most likely get a fine, points on your licence, and sued by road users having an accident through distraction from it!
I have an old one which I use for fun at the light up shows.
Fordoholic Nick wrote: ↑Wed Jan 29, 2020 1:19 pm
There are lots of these SOS Laybys on the M1 now too with the telephone for help. How the hell you are supposed to rejoin the carriageway with absolutely no "run in" Lane as there is no hard shoulder. Y
When they `trialled` this technology on the M42 they had rescue areas every 600m: the new ones it`s 2.5 miles!. M6 through B`ham is elevated so there`s absolutely nowhere to go. Finally after spending £Bns installing this, now they listen to people.
I could believe it last week both the M1 and long stretches of the M6 with 50Mph speed limits.
My thoughts on smart motorways -
1. Only ever allow use of the hard shoulder as an extra lane when when another lane has to be closed for an accident. Otherwise
2. Limit hard shoulder lane to 40 or 50mph to limit the impact speed of the inevitable accidents that will occur when fast moving traffic collides with parked vehicles
Paul,
Done a bit of research and it does seem it`s OK to use in an emergency. They`re prohibited except under conditions in column 3, (bear in mind this is not fixed to the vehicle, so there are no construction & use issues):
"when it is necessary or desirable to warn persons of the presence of the vehicle; "
Dont mean to throw fuel on the fire (yes I do )would it be fair to think that the incidence of broken down cars would be far less than say 20 years ago ( or whenever BL went under ) and thusly the issue is not as bad as it used to be ? I know it only takes one car to break down and the lane is blocked . On tother hand when traffic is really busy seems a waste to have an empty lane. I saw a doco on the Sydney harbour bridge ......they dont fuck round over there , you break down and within mins there is a poolice car with a big fuck off bumper and they just shove you to the end of the bridge. Here we have parking lanes that must be vacated before peak traffic....(.or they just tow your car to the impound where you have to pay .....as my Dad found out) and the parking lane becomes either a bus only lane or another main traffic lane.
I dont understand why you seem surprised that governments waste billions on dumb ideas that dont work.....thats their job
Sometimes I talk to myself ... and we both have a good laugh
Mc Tool wrote: ↑Wed Jan 29, 2020 8:17 pm
would it be fair to think that the incidence of broken down cars would be far less than say 20 years ago ( or whenever BL went under ) and thusly the issue is not as bad as it used to be ?
I know not. Only had to use the hard shouldr once, crawling traffic up to the thames tunnel on the way home. Was in the Capri. Had to take the cardboard out from the radiator
Seen plenty of younger motors than mine give out though. Not sure if they actually are more reliable or not. I mean.... never service an escort, escort break down. Never service a focus, focus break down.
I'm the one who leaves all those shoes in the carriageway.
Even if cars are more reliable, there are twice as many now. Plus, people nowadays don`t realise they still need to check tyres, oil etc, they assume these are things from the past until something breaks. It`s not the breaking down, it`s the fact they`ve taken away the hard shoulder, so you`re stuck in a live lane with 70 mph traffic, nowhere to escape, and people have died.
stevemarl wrote: ↑Wed Jan 29, 2020 8:47 pm
Even if cars are more reliable, there are twice as many now. Plus, people nowadays don`t realise they still need to check tyres, oil etc, they assume these are things from the past until something breaks. It`s not the breaking down, it`s the fact they`ve taken away the hard shoulder, so you`re stuck in a live lane with 70 mph traffic, nowhere to escape, and people have died.
Yes mate with you all the way, lives actually get lost, its madness!
I'm the one who leaves all those shoes in the carriageway.
website for uploading photos
)would it be fair to think that the incidence of broken down cars would be far less than say 20 years ago ( or whenever BL went under ) and thusly the issue is not as bad as it used to be ? I know it only takes one car to break down and the lane is blocked . On tother hand when traffic is really busy seems a waste to have an empty lane. I saw a doco on the Sydney harbour bridge ......they dont fuck round over there , you break down and within mins there is a poolice car with a big fuck off bumper and they just shove you to the end of the bridge. Here we have parking lanes that must be vacated before peak traffic....(.or they just tow your car to the impound where you have to pay .....as my Dad found out) and the parking lane becomes either a bus only lane or another main traffic lane.
I`ll write to Boris, he`ll sort it.