M4 closed after collision at speed camera van site

[deeps]

The M4 was closed this morning for four hours between junctions 17 Chippenham and 16 Swindon West.

The accident was right infront of a bridge that the Wiltshire SCP regularly place a camera van on.

The local news had a camera at the scene which clearly showed a white van sat on the bridge behind the wreckage, but not close enough to be identifiable.

Did anyone see them there early this morning?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/wi

[deeps]

Tonyrec said:

Sadly, this just adds weight to the debate that they should be there.

Please tell me how?

If their aim is to somehow reduce accidents by merely placing camera vans on bridges, this proves that it isn't working.

[deeps]

Tonyrec said:

I thought it was simple. When the van is there, no Collisions......when its not there, the road is closed because some idiot was demonstrating that they couldnt drive in a safe manner.

But are you guessing that the van wasn't there and you are guessing that collisions don't happen when it is?

By the look of the wreckage the car took a very heavy impact to the rear, as if it had slammed on the brakes for some reason, the most obvious reason I can think of being having sighted a bridge talivan.

The same thing happened a few weeks ago when a car and trailor ended up facing the wrong way after spotting a talivan.

Imagine a little experiment of standing on the bridge waiting for an accident to happen, I think one would have a very long wait. Therefore theoretically there's not much chance of a talivan being witness to an accident, but in practice this doesn't seem to be the case. They see lots of panic braking and near misses, and scarper when the inevitable happens!

Another theoretical experiment could be how to make an accident happen, without actually being on the motorway. Throwing something from a bridge could do it, although parking a white van above lane two would have a good chance too. (I know in a perfect world it shouldn't).

Tony, why do the police endorse this crazy, dangerous activity?

Do you know if it would be legal for me to park a white van above lane two and film the traffic from the side door with a camcorder? The footage could be interesting.



>> Edited by deeps on Friday 3rd March 00:45