Hard shoulder prosecutions

Author
Discussion

grumpy52

Original Poster:

5,577 posts

166 months

Saturday 23rd July 2016
quotequote all
After the hay lorry fire on the M2 yesterday it's reported that 6 drivers are to be prosecuted for using the hard shoulder in the tailbacks and preventing a fire appliance from making progress to the fire .
I have no sympathy for the offenders but do have sympathy for all the others caught up in the gridlock in the area .
The traffic management ended with being directed off the motorway.
The 6 mile tailback in the opposite direction to the closure was caused by the roundabout at Brenley corner being blocked up by diverted traffic .
It's sad that due to cutbacks that we don't get any traffic control from the police in diversions due to accidents these days .
They main routes in this area have been a nightmare since yesterday afternoon as the alternative M20 was closed for a while later on due to another accident requiring the attendance of the air ambulance.


PurpleMoonlight

22,362 posts

157 months

Saturday 23rd July 2016
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Did we ever get diversion signs placed for motorway accidents.

I can't recall ever seeing any.

silent ninja

863 posts

100 months

Saturday 23rd July 2016
quotequote all
What were they doing on the hard shoulder? Presumedly broken down, flat tyre etc You can't be prosecuted for that.

Of course it's possible they just pulled over to have a nap whilst the traffic worked itself out...

Riley Blue

20,952 posts

226 months

Saturday 23rd July 2016
quotequote all
Tried to avoid the stationary traffic by driving along the hard shoulder then got stuck by the lorry on fire and blocked the route for the fire engine.

mudster

784 posts

244 months

Saturday 23rd July 2016
quotequote all
PurpleMoonlight said:
Did we ever get diversion signs placed for motorway accidents.

I can't recall ever seeing any.
Yes, you do, but they are diversion routes pre-established for emergencies at strategic locations. You follow the route symbol.

Here is one ADS not far from me, displaying diversion symbols (fingers crossed this works from my tablet):

https://goo.gl/maps/W6BEZ8RuVyE2

It's the roundabout sign, not the lane sign.

grumpy52

Original Poster:

5,577 posts

166 months

Saturday 23rd July 2016
quotequote all
They were driving down the hard shoulder towards the motorway closure and on spotting the police tried to force their way back into the lanes but were blocked then the fire appliance came down the hard shoulder .
Most motorways have a diversion plan using signs ie ○.♢.□.●.■.the direction will be follow the given symbol.
Also in the past their would have been officers at junctions directing traffic .

anonymous-user

54 months

Saturday 23rd July 2016
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PurpleMoonlight said:
Did we ever get diversion signs placed for motorway accidents.

I can't recall ever seeing any.
Yes, but due to sheer incompetence and uselessness of most Gov info on the Web I'll put this here rolleyes

http://www.cbrd.co.uk/articles/emergency-diversion...

mph1977

12,467 posts

168 months

Saturday 23rd July 2016
quotequote all
Riley Blue said:
Tried to avoid the stationary traffic by driving along the hard shoulder then got stuck by the lorry on fire and blocked the route for the fire engine.
usual story

however itls just the kind of behaviour the powerfully built faction of PH's membership would take part in , beieving themselves to be more important than the plebs .

Writhing

490 posts

109 months

Sunday 24th July 2016
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An even more worrying trend is for drivers to drive down the hard shoulder against the flow of traffic when there is a long delay. I've noticed this a few times.

grumpyscot

1,277 posts

192 months

Sunday 24th July 2016
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Or TV stars stopping their taxi to have a pee and a slug of brandy at the side of the hard shouder

Drumroll

3,756 posts

120 months

Sunday 24th July 2016
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The other side of this is a few years ago after being stuck in motorway traffic and getting fed up with traffic going past on the hard shoulder. I decided that the next car I saw on the hard shoulder I would pull onto the hard shoulder to prevent their progress. Only problem is, it happened the next car was an unmarked police car. 3 points and £60 later, lesson learned.

donkmeister

8,150 posts

100 months

Monday 25th July 2016
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Drumroll said:
The other side of this is a few years ago after being stuck in motorway traffic and getting fed up with traffic going past on the hard shoulder. I decided that the next car I saw on the hard shoulder I would pull onto the hard shoulder to prevent their progress. Only problem is, it happened the next car was an unmarked police car. 3 points and £60 later, lesson learned.
Yet another reason why blue lights should be mandatory in certain situations... if nothing else, to placate those sat in traffic that this car is not being driven by a self-important git but someone going to help fix the problem.

Gafferjim

1,335 posts

265 months

Thursday 28th July 2016
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donkmeister said:
Yet another reason why blue lights should be mandatory in certain situations... if nothing else, to placate those sat in traffic that this car is not being driven by a self-important git but someone going to help fix the problem.
It would have had blue lights discreetly behind the radiator grill and on the rear parcel shelf.

TooMany2cvs

29,008 posts

126 months

Thursday 28th July 2016
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Gafferjim said:
donkmeister said:
Yet another reason why blue lights should be mandatory in certain situations... if nothing else, to placate those sat in traffic that this car is not being driven by a self-important git but someone going to help fix the problem.
It would have had blue lights discreetly behind the radiator grill and on the rear parcel shelf.
But were they in use?