LGVs banned from Lane 2
Discussion
I read in the paper today that LGVs (trucks over 7.5 tonnes) are to be prohibited from using lane 2 of the M42 (M40 - M6 section I think) between 7am and 7pm. This is to be a trial run, and may be rolled out across the network.
You will of course be expecting me to try and discredit this idea, so I will (in a moment).
On the face of it, it is an excellent way of speeding up the traffic flow in lanes 2&3. Good news for the car driver, or is it?
Before putting a truckies slant on this, lets look at it from the point of view of cars. The Highways Agency are making a huge assumption - that cars will travel at or near the NSL and will observe correct lane discipline. I think that what will actually happen is that lane 2 will have the odd car happily bimbling along at 60-65mph, while lane 3 will have the usual train of cars at 80-90mph with barely a fag packet between them. Time will tell.
From a truckies perspective........
Prior to the restriction. I believe that severe congestion will occur here as trucks merge into lane 1. We know that trucks travel fairly close together (too close I agree), so it will undoubtedly lead to trucks braking in lane one. Given the "caterpillar effect", the 2oth truck in the line will be reducing speed to a crawl. I seriously wonder if there will be enough space at rush hour given the amount of heavies on the road.
In the restriction. Thuck speed will be limited by the slowest. Not all speed limiters are the same - they vary by up to 5mph. This is why we end up with elephant racing. I forsee large gaps in the convoy, with any number of trucks following the slowest. Inevitably, they will bunch up and be travelling far too close.
Now consider the car driver blatting along in lane 3 who suddenly sees the junction he wants. He will have to negotiate a wall of trucks in order to leave the motorway. Many numpties are unable to match their speed and filter in. Most will see a gap, go for it and hit the brakes, slowing down the truck behind. Again considering the caterpillar action, somewhere back down the line, a truck will end up doing an emergency stop. Similar problems will occur for car drivers wishing to join the motorway.
after the restriction. All the trucks which are capable of 58mph will pull out to overtake the slow one travelling at 53mph. We will then have one slow truck in lane 1, with a convoy virtually blocking lane 2.
This has solved the problem in the restricted area, but just moved the elephant racing further up the road.
I dont even want to think about the chaos which could be caused by a special types truck (wide or heay load} cruising up the motorway at 40mph. And what about Mr & Mrs numpty caravanner who crawl along at 50mph or less?
I realise that many will disagree with the post, but that is how I see it. just another ill thought out idea in order to avoid constructing a workable infrastructure.
And before anyone posts that this is how it`s done in Germany - I know. I have spent many frustrating hours crawling along in a convoy stuck behind some piece of crap east european truck. The system doesn`t work!
Successive governments have screwed up this country`s transport system so much that almost all of the freight goes by road now. Given that truckies simply cannot drive a bit longer if they are held up, massive investment (not just in roads) is required to ensure that goods arrive at the right place at the right time, therefore ensuring that the country works eficiently and economically.
"Quick fixes" such as the one proposed are simply not the answer.
Now off to don my flameproof suit.
Steve
You will of course be expecting me to try and discredit this idea, so I will (in a moment).
On the face of it, it is an excellent way of speeding up the traffic flow in lanes 2&3. Good news for the car driver, or is it?
Before putting a truckies slant on this, lets look at it from the point of view of cars. The Highways Agency are making a huge assumption - that cars will travel at or near the NSL and will observe correct lane discipline. I think that what will actually happen is that lane 2 will have the odd car happily bimbling along at 60-65mph, while lane 3 will have the usual train of cars at 80-90mph with barely a fag packet between them. Time will tell.
From a truckies perspective........
Prior to the restriction. I believe that severe congestion will occur here as trucks merge into lane 1. We know that trucks travel fairly close together (too close I agree), so it will undoubtedly lead to trucks braking in lane one. Given the "caterpillar effect", the 2oth truck in the line will be reducing speed to a crawl. I seriously wonder if there will be enough space at rush hour given the amount of heavies on the road.
In the restriction. Thuck speed will be limited by the slowest. Not all speed limiters are the same - they vary by up to 5mph. This is why we end up with elephant racing. I forsee large gaps in the convoy, with any number of trucks following the slowest. Inevitably, they will bunch up and be travelling far too close.
Now consider the car driver blatting along in lane 3 who suddenly sees the junction he wants. He will have to negotiate a wall of trucks in order to leave the motorway. Many numpties are unable to match their speed and filter in. Most will see a gap, go for it and hit the brakes, slowing down the truck behind. Again considering the caterpillar action, somewhere back down the line, a truck will end up doing an emergency stop. Similar problems will occur for car drivers wishing to join the motorway.
after the restriction. All the trucks which are capable of 58mph will pull out to overtake the slow one travelling at 53mph. We will then have one slow truck in lane 1, with a convoy virtually blocking lane 2.
This has solved the problem in the restricted area, but just moved the elephant racing further up the road.
I dont even want to think about the chaos which could be caused by a special types truck (wide or heay load} cruising up the motorway at 40mph. And what about Mr & Mrs numpty caravanner who crawl along at 50mph or less?
I realise that many will disagree with the post, but that is how I see it. just another ill thought out idea in order to avoid constructing a workable infrastructure.
And before anyone posts that this is how it`s done in Germany - I know. I have spent many frustrating hours crawling along in a convoy stuck behind some piece of crap east european truck. The system doesn`t work!
Successive governments have screwed up this country`s transport system so much that almost all of the freight goes by road now. Given that truckies simply cannot drive a bit longer if they are held up, massive investment (not just in roads) is required to ensure that goods arrive at the right place at the right time, therefore ensuring that the country works eficiently and economically.
"Quick fixes" such as the one proposed are simply not the answer.
Now off to don my flameproof suit.
Steve
8Pack said:
Start a programme of building crawler lanes on steep uphill sections of motorways. Cheaper than a 4th lane with much the same results.
Again, good in theory, but.......... as the two examples on the M25 show, in heavy traffic this simply increases congestion due to the games of "chicken" which occur at the pinch point.
Question for you..... At the end of the crawler lane section, which lane should end?
Steve
diesel ed said:
Do you realise that that was almost exactly half the length of the Declaration of Independence.
No I didn`t, how fascinating.
diesel ed said:
If I was interested in all that I could read it in the papers for myself.
You could have saved yourself 30p. Besides, I`m not sure if was published in "Practical Trolling"
diesel ed said:
I don't come her for news, information or reasoned debate on matters affecting motorists - I come here for a
That makes two of us.
diesel ed said:It has now that you are involved.
This has been done to death.
diesel ed said:
Lorries to be banned from middle lane
Didn`t see it until later. Spank my arse and call me wanton.
diesel ed said:
Get a life towman - this isn't the Lack of Speed, Plodding Along & The Mother In Law in the Back Forum!
In future try to make your posts a little less Ilkonsidered.
Glad too see you listened to my advice about putting humour into your posts. With a little more effort you might be competant at it.
Toerag
ace-T said:
Then please move out of this forum and visit the Pie and Piston where the posts are much more to your liking.
Nooooo. Don`t inflict him on them. He is better off here - we understand his needs and humour him. Besides, the people on P&P might allow him access to sharp objects.
Check out some of his earlier threads/posts via the profile and you will understand.
Steve
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