|
Post by thebfg on Jan 16, 2021 19:31:55 GMT
The inside lane is populated by slow moving very heavy vehicles. I have been in a Scania low loader once when one of my boats was delivered . A trip from Wigan to Henley on Thames. Nice run down south and the driver was really good company (I hope he felt the same about me but I suspect it just added to the workload). Anyway it gave me a different view of the roads. Big heavy vehicle traveling at a slow speed compared to other traffic but actually a very high speed compared to stationary objects. If you get a stationary car in front what do you do? Move out into the next lane and cause a pileup or go left and take out your own wagon while protecting others. Going left seems the responsible option . Mr Stabby is probably the man to ask about this as he had done the occasional HGV driving job. And then you have to wonder if the truck behind has clocked what is going on or if you are going to be rear-ended. There will have been nothing on the gantry signs to indicate any issue. On the first part, which confirms my point that its drivers that are dangerous, if you can't move over then slow down. If someone rear ends you they are diving without due care and attention. They can't blame the road. The problem with signs is they don't monitor the cameras enough so don't know. Which I said needs improvement.
|
|
|
Post by Mr Stabby on Jan 16, 2021 19:54:51 GMT
And then you have to wonder if the truck behind has clocked what is going on or if you are going to be rear-ended. There will have been nothing on the gantry signs to indicate any issue. On the first part, which confirms my point that its drivers that are dangerous, if you can't move over then slow down. If someone rear ends you they are diving without due care and attention. They can't blame the road. The problem with signs is they don't monitor the cameras enough so don't know. Which I said needs improvement. Well, if the motorways needed improved capacity then they should have been widened to four or even five lanes and the continuous hard shoulder should have been retained. There have been numerous deaths caused by rear-end collisions on Smart Motorways and it seems pointless to say "people should be different".
|
|
|
Post by thebfg on Jan 16, 2021 20:28:42 GMT
On the first part, which confirms my point that its drivers that are dangerous, if you can't move over then slow down. If someone rear ends you they are diving without due care and attention. They can't blame the road. The problem with signs is they don't monitor the cameras enough so don't know. Which I said needs improvement. Well, if the motorways needed improved capacity then they should have been widened to four or even five lanes and the continuous hard shoulder should have been retained. There have been numerous deaths caused by rear-end collisions on Smart Motorways and it seems pointless to say "people should be different". There have been numerous deaths on normal motorways as well. A road is an inanimate object and is as dangerous as my cat. I don't disagree they should be widened however drivers are at fault for every death, not a road.
|
|
|
Post by thebfg on Jan 16, 2021 20:30:01 GMT
Sorry Steve.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2021 20:35:48 GMT
Smart motorways are another one of my pet hates. I lost a friend who rear ended another vehicle. I think itβs an utterly ridiculous idea, given there isnβt enough technology to make it work.
|
|
|
Post by JohnV on Jan 16, 2021 21:03:13 GMT
I agree with Mr Stabby and Bedruthen the scenario that Mr Stabby describes is one that I have been through ..... Hairy, very hairy, praying that either your brakes will stop you in time or some bastard in the next lane will give you a gap
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2021 21:14:52 GMT
Following several high profile fatalities in South Yorkshire, I understand all works have been suspended regarding upgrading to Smart motorways.
The idea of smart motorways was obviously designed and tested on computer ... a death trap in the real world.
Rog
|
|
|
Post by Trina on Jan 16, 2021 22:01:15 GMT
Husband's family had a freight business,hubs used to do a lot of continental driving before he became a traffic manager.He then became the UK MD for a French(πspit)chemical haulage company.He does NOT like smart motorways & reckons there will be more deaths before things change.
|
|
|
Post by thebfg on Jan 17, 2021 2:17:13 GMT
Following several high profile fatalities in South Yorkshire, I understand all works have been suspended regarding upgrading to Smart motorways. The idea of smart motorways was obviously designed and tested on computer ... a death trap in the real world. Rog they are still converting the M27. Work continues as we speak. Sadly 38 people have died on a smart motorways over the last 5 years compared to around 500 on normal motorways. However I cant say what the cause of the 38 deaths were or if the all lane running was a contributing factor. Funny how we don't call dual carriage ways death traps either.
|
|
|
Post by JohnV on Jan 17, 2021 7:30:12 GMT
Following several high profile fatalities in South Yorkshire, I understand all works have been suspended regarding upgrading to Smart motorways. The idea of smart motorways was obviously designed and tested on computer ... a death trap in the real world. Rog they are still converting the M27. Work continues as we speak. Sadly 38 people have died on a smart motorways over the last 5 years compared to around 500 on normal motorways. However I can say what the cause of the 38 deaths were or if the all lane running was a contributing factor. Funny how we don't call dual carriage ways death traps either.my "interesting" experience with a fully laden 7.5 tonner I mentioned a couple of posts ago was on a dual carriageway with no run off (quite a few years ago but still gives me the shudders)
|
|
|
Post by peterboat on Jan 18, 2021 18:45:50 GMT
Eastern European. Bet u 50p. It's one of McCulla's and although they are an Irish firm, the majority of their drivers are indeed eastern European. However, as it ran off the road after hitting a stationary car in Lane 1, you'd have to wonder if, yet again, it shows the inherent danger of smart motorways. Or eastern european lorry drivers having a quick 40 winks?
|
|
|
Post by peterboat on Jan 18, 2021 18:52:22 GMT
Following several high profile fatalities in South Yorkshire, I understand all works have been suspended regarding upgrading to Smart motorways. The idea of smart motorways was obviously designed and tested on computer ... a death trap in the real world. Rog they are still converting the M27. Work continues as we speak. Sadly 38 people have died on a smart motorways over the last 5 years compared to around 500 on normal motorways. However I cant say what the cause of the 38 deaths were or if the all lane running was a contributing factor. Funny how we don't call dual carriage ways death traps either. I agree with you dual carriageways rarely have hard shoulders speeds are similar to motorways so what is the real issue? Driver awareness really, I looked at a picture yesterday a car had run out of fuel in the fourth lane!! it was chaos surely he could have made it into the first lane or a refuge? but no he put on 4 way flashers and stopped, couldnt boil them as soft
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 18, 2021 19:03:04 GMT
One of the strangest things I have ever seen on a motorway was an ordinary passenger car (VW golf I think it was) pointing the wrong way in the outside lane. No damage to the vehicle. Driver was alone and standing in the central reservation area.
There was plenty of traffic about.
I just can't figure out how it ended up there. Very bizarre.
Maybe it was hit from the side right at the back (or front) by someone else pulling out (or in) and just spun round.
Lucky man I guess !
|
|