stefanovic
Medal Winner
What do you do if you break down or have a puncture and the refuge area is not in sight or you are in the outer lanes?
Smart Motorways!
- Thread starter Golfmmad
- Start date
MegaSteve
Tour Winner
Clench your buttocks tight and hope for the best...
jim8flog
Journeyman Pro
Re lane hogging
I remember a case a few years ago when somebody was prosecuted for causing an obstruction when they drove continuously at 70 MPH in the outside lane.
I remember a case a few years ago when somebody was prosecuted for causing an obstruction when they drove continuously at 70 MPH in the outside lane.
SwingsitlikeHogan
Major Champion
The idea is that, as every yard (maybe not literally but practically) of the motorway is monitored by CCTV 24hrs/day 365days/year - any breakdown or incident is spotted immediately and the overhead gantry displays immediately flash up warning information and tell traffic to slow down and move lanes accordingly.
stefanovic
Medal Winner
But apart from that, in the absence of the hard shoulder and in the presence of heavy lorries, do you get out of your vehicle and have a 50% chance of survival or stay in your vehicle and have maybe a 25% chance.
If you get hit it won't matter much what speed the vehicle behind is doing.
Like golf, you will have to play the percentages.
stefanovic
Medal Winner
Theory is not always practice. I wouldn't like to put it to the test.
Not so long ago we were told smart motorways were safe. Now some very disturbing incidents have proved otherwise.
Old Skier
Tour Winner
Agree, always impressed when I go up to the midlands and travel on the M42, the trick is to travel at the speed shown on the signs, now there's a novelty.
Wondered why down south building extra lanes on motorways was just an excuse to have more empty inside lanes.
D
Deleted member 18588
Guest
I presume you didn't see the speed camera warning signs on the majority of gantrys.
As for accidents and fatalities, would you like to share the statistics proving these are more frequent on "smart" motorways.
In any event I am surprised that you even use motorways and certainly not at high speeds in view of your "guardian of the environment" status.
anotherdouble
Journeyman Pro
passing a vehicle on the inside is not the same as undertaking
Robster59
Tour Rookie
I'd look at the bottom line that says "may be prosecuted for careless driving". It's an argument you'd have to put in your claim if you did get done for overtaking on the left.
To be honest, they said they were going to prosecute middle lane hoggers for careless driving and you don't really hear of that any more either.
SwingsitlikeHogan
Major Champion
And so has my Mrs. And on the SMART motorway awareness course she went on it was explained why, and two reasons she mentioned are that where a motorway is through a built up area and close to housing, speed will be slowed during the night to cut down road and 'engine/exhaust' noise; and also it is often the case they want to keep everyone at a slower speed when there are motorway maintenance workers on the road ahead. Just get everyone slow nice and early.
TBH - I have driven on many of the SMART M'ways and in general I have no issues. In many ways it's easy for me as I am a diligent adherent to temporary and average speed limits (though I do exceed 70mph on motorways but rarely much over 80)
I also refuse to undertake - even if I am permitted as other posts suggest I might be - as I just don't trust the other driver not to come in without looking...and I suspect that were there a collision I would be held as being at fault. It bugs - but I just don't.
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USER1999
Grand Slam Winner
If the variable limit on the M25 is there to reduce congestion, and allow trafgic to flow, albeit slowly, their algorithm is wrong, and it not only does not work, but is complete rubbish. Anyone who drives round it regularly will know this. If they really wanted this to work, a 30 limit should be applied every day, 05.00 to 23.30, and then dial it down from there.
SwingsitlikeHogan
Major Champion
Maybe that's the answer.
Pretty elementary wave modelling shows how traffic flows work, and the huge immediate and legacy impacts of sudden bunching when fast traffic has to suddenly slow.
In my thinking this is why we get slow traffic in the other direction to a motorway accident. It's not folk slowing to gawp. Fast traffic adjacent to and immediately approaching an accident just happened on other side of road slows down very rapidly - shock at what they've just seen and suddenly wanting to take greater care. And that rapid slowing causes traffic slowing to build and propagate in a wave motion back down the carriageway from that point. And so we get long queues building up very quickly as fast traffic slowing rapidly hits the back of the queue - for no reason other than the accident the other side of the motorway.
If traffic is gong slower at a steady speed that sudden very rapid slow-down doesn't happen in the same way as traffic slows together - and is less likely to bunch and stop.
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Blue in Munich
Crocked Professional Yeti Impersonator
You get out of your vehicle, over the barrier and once you’ve phoned the motorway control from the motorway phone, NOT YOUR MOBILE, get as far away from the carriageway as possible.
Swinglowandslow
Well-known member
Intrigued about the "motorway phone" . How frequent are they and why not use your own mobile.
I appreciate that if you do use a motorway phone, the location of incident is not likely to be mistaken. But how far apart are they?
You clearly are giving best advice ( your job), I'm just concerned how I and/or my wife would follow it if long distance is involved😊
Sats
Challenge Tour Pro
I know! the M20 is a nightmare - just imagine what it'll be like during operation stack!
chrisd
Major Champion
Awful, as I can testify. They are starting Operation Brock next week ready for a No Deal Brexit even though it's not going to happen 🤔🤔
Imurg
The Grinder Of Pars (Semi Crocked)
I believe they're 1km apart - so you're never more than 500m ( a par 5) away from one.
Blue in Munich
Crocked Professional Yeti Impersonator
You’ve answered your own question; location. M4 control used to cover the M25/M4 junction. The percentage of calls that came in on motorway phones, the location of which we knew, from callers who would swear blind they were on the opposite carriageway to the one the phone was on, or even the wrong motorway was quite frightening. It’s a bit of an issue when trying to respond promptly if you’re sent to the wrong motorway. 😳
If I remember correctly, it should never be more than half a mile, as the phones were a mile apart and the mile markers, which were every tenth of a mile, had an arrow on them with a logo of a telephone handset indicating the direction to the nearest one.
Using a mobile and quoting a mile marker would be an alternative if you can’t get to the motorway phone, but as most people aren’t aware of the mile marker system it was always easier to advise people to use the motorway phone. ðŸ‘
Golfmmad
Tour Winner
The mindset in Oz is obviously different to here in the UK. Many motorists here just will not adhere to speed limits and are so impatient. And therin lies the problem, getting people to SLOW DOWN!
Take today for instance: Driving on the M23 50mph limit section, its pouring down with rain, visibility very poor due to spray.I'm driving at 50 and the guy behind is almost in my boot, he suddenly shoots inside at breakneck speed to get in front of me. It was madness, especially as he had to slow down again because of volume of traffic. Why cant people just accept the speed limit and cruise through it in a safe way. There's a reason why the limit is in place - narrow lanes and to protect the workforce.
I often hear of people complaining about these type of road works on Motorways when there's been an accident. It's not the fault of there being a speed limit, but that of the careless/impatient motorist.
TRAFFIC NEEDS TO SLOW DOWN!
