Smart motorways?

[patman post]

I use the M4 Newport to Bristol and the M32 every day and the [...................................] other day a load of us on the ramp and J25 took matters into our own hands and turned round and drove off with some good people standing at the entrance stopping others from trying to get on. Not a Copper in sight!

I had to crawl onto and along the A48 to try and get past J24. I had the radio on and it was 40mns later before the accident and closure were reported!



So, no I am really not impressed with the concept as implemented to date.

I frequently use the A26/A1 autoroutes to Paris. They're not immune to crashes and roadworks, but there is good clear information signage, which also notifies drivers of a dedicated radio station giving road conditions. Somehow, UK local traffic news doesn't do the job as well...

[papasmurf]

We shall see. I've met him twice and found him to be intelligent and affable and willing to listen. But I don't think he has much time for those he considers idiots...

He is an idiot with an appalling track record.

[patman post]

That he is not capable of.

We shall see. I've met him twice and found him to be intelligent and affable and willing to listen. But I don't think he has much time for those he considers idiots...

[Sampanviking]

I use the M4 Newport to Bristol and the M32 every day and the trouble I find with these "Smart Motorways" is that they are not that smart.



Gripe 1 - Speed limits not enforced. I am not a fan of points and fines and so abide by the limits. The number of times I am  in the middle lane at the 50 mile limit, watching White 18 Reg Audi and BMW's whizz past at twice my speed and then have an HGV come up my a*s* at 60 are beyond count.



More than that the monitoring and information from the controllers appears to be minimal.

Very often after a bad smash, they close the entire motorway but fail to notify the motorist by putting the closed symbol on the smart sign posts. This results in a stream of drivers continuing to try and join the motorway and only discover too late that is it not moving.



The other day a load of us on the ramp and J25 took matters into our own hands and turned round and drove off with some good people standing at the entrance stopping others from trying to get on. Not a Copper in sight!

I had to crawl onto and along the A48 to try and get past J24. I had the radio on and it was 40mns later before the accident and closure were reported!



So, no I am really not impressed with the concept as implemented to date.

[papasmurf]

Grant Shapps has a tough job

That he is not capable of.

[patman post]

Road and traffic planning throughout the UK by all authorities appears to be undertaken by unskilled enthusiasts all trying to get their pet ideas put into place without regard to other coming schemes or those already in place.

Smart motorways is just one example — it might have been a useful idea had it been publicised, trialled and closely monitored. Instead, it appears the bean counters and jobsworths were left to implement pared-down cost-reduced schemes that have caused tradgedies. Road users tend to be idiots — sometimes, at least. Traffic schemes should cater for them.

Bus lanes, bus stops, cycle lanes, parking, signage, traffic flow systems often seem to be installed without any real study of what is required and what the effect will be. Frequently operational times vary along the same stretch of road — and it would be useful if the instructions were not obliterated by other street furniture or trees, or worn off the road so they cannot be read on overcast wet days.

Grant Shapps has a tough job if he doesn't get some people with experience and common sense into his roads' team, and instruct others to do the same...

[papasmurf]

Grant Shapps is an idiot.

He is rapidly catching up with Chris Grayling. As for "Smart" motorways utilising the hard shoulder as an extra lane, the section of the M5 approaching Bristol from the South is somewhat "character building."

[cromwell]

And the beeb proving they can still come up with the goods, from discussions elsewhere we knew this was a bad idea but they still carry on regardless,the stats for near misses are frightening and Grant Shapps is an idiot. https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000dtqv/panorama-britains-killer-motorways">//https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000dtqv/panorama-britains-killer-motorways