Traffic control at motorway accident sites
Discussion
The following letter appeared in The Daily Telegraph this morning. It's not the usual moan we have on here about the length of time a major road is closed for forensics, etc., so I thought it worthy of an airing as it asks a sensible question.
Streaky
Letter page in The Daily Telegraph said:
I was stuck for six hours on the Surrey section of the M25 last Saturday in the aftermath of two separate accidents a mile or two apart. Leading up to the site of each accident, there was a stretch of a few hundred yards in which three lanes were closed. Delays were caused by a free-for-all as drivers were left to jockey for position in the one remaining lane.
At the scene of the first accident, I saw one highway official seemingly asleep in the car. At the second point, two police officers were standing watching the chaos.
All this could have been avoided if a couple of officers had been directing the traffic, allowing cars in the four lanes to go through the remaining lane in turn for, say, 30 seconds at a time. Do today’s police feel such work is below them? Or are there health and safety issues?
I'll add: are police today trained in traffic control?At the scene of the first accident, I saw one highway official seemingly asleep in the car. At the second point, two police officers were standing watching the chaos.
All this could have been avoided if a couple of officers had been directing the traffic, allowing cars in the four lanes to go through the remaining lane in turn for, say, 30 seconds at a time. Do today’s police feel such work is below them? Or are there health and safety issues?
Streaky
TPS said:
Its not everyday toads close the road.
London Evening Standard said:
Of unknown date.
More than 2,000 lust-driven toads yesterday forced the closure of a road.
It was closed by conservationists to allow the toads to reach their breeding lake in Llandrindod Wells, mid Wales.
In past years, thousands have been run over making the journey, contributing to a decline in the lake's toad population.
It is hoped that the 'Toad Watch' scheme, by allowing the toads safe passage to their pond of love, will help the population rise again.
http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/119882-sex-toads-forc...
More than 2,000 lust-driven toads yesterday forced the closure of a road.
It was closed by conservationists to allow the toads to reach their breeding lake in Llandrindod Wells, mid Wales.
In past years, thousands have been run over making the journey, contributing to a decline in the lake's toad population.
It is hoped that the 'Toad Watch' scheme, by allowing the toads safe passage to their pond of love, will help the population rise again.
http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/119882-sex-toads-forc...
SWLondoner said:
30 March, 2012
Migrating toads have forced the council to close a Richmond road, as volunteers dedicate hours to saving them from traffic and drains.
A 400m stretch of Church Lane, between Latchmere Lane and Ham Park Avenue, is closed to traffic until April 2 to protect the amphibians while they travel to mating ponds.
And volunteers are arriving at the site most evenings to carry out ‘toad patrols’, picking the creatures out of gutters and transporting them safely to a nearby pond.
http://swlondoner.co.uk/content/3003880-warning-to...
Migrating toads have forced the council to close a Richmond road, as volunteers dedicate hours to saving them from traffic and drains.
A 400m stretch of Church Lane, between Latchmere Lane and Ham Park Avenue, is closed to traffic until April 2 to protect the amphibians while they travel to mating ponds.
And volunteers are arriving at the site most evenings to carry out ‘toad patrols’, picking the creatures out of gutters and transporting them safely to a nearby pond.
http://swlondoner.co.uk/content/3003880-warning-to...
Daily Mail said:
31 December 2004
A country road is to close for three months to allow breeding toads to cross it.
Traffic will be diverted round the 1,000-yard stretch of road in Bath, Somerset, from January to March to allow toads, frogs and newts to reach their breeding grounds in the mating season.
It is the third year Bath and North East Somerset Council has closed this section of Charlcombe Lane to through traffic.
Charlcombe Lane is the most important crossing place in the area for the increasingly rare amphibians. Toads spend the summer in the surrounding hills and make their way to water to breed in the early spring.
This year 619 toads, 43 newts and 131 frogs were rescued - an increase of around 100 on 2003's toad rescue. The scheme is part of the Wildthings partnership.
Rosemary Todd of Bath and North East Council said thousands of toads needed protecting as they crossed the road on their way from nearby hills to lakes and streams.
She said: "I am delighted to announce that we shall be closing this road again.
"The last two years have saved the lives of hundreds of amphibians, so I do hope that users of Charlcombe Lane will understand why it is important for Bath & North East Somerset Council to close the road. We apologise for any inconvenience this will cause."
During the road closure, residents will still have full access to their homes and diversion signs will be in place to encourage other vehicles to avoid the lane.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-332490/Roa...
Not every day, true!A country road is to close for three months to allow breeding toads to cross it.
Traffic will be diverted round the 1,000-yard stretch of road in Bath, Somerset, from January to March to allow toads, frogs and newts to reach their breeding grounds in the mating season.
It is the third year Bath and North East Somerset Council has closed this section of Charlcombe Lane to through traffic.
Charlcombe Lane is the most important crossing place in the area for the increasingly rare amphibians. Toads spend the summer in the surrounding hills and make their way to water to breed in the early spring.
This year 619 toads, 43 newts and 131 frogs were rescued - an increase of around 100 on 2003's toad rescue. The scheme is part of the Wildthings partnership.
Rosemary Todd of Bath and North East Council said thousands of toads needed protecting as they crossed the road on their way from nearby hills to lakes and streams.
She said: "I am delighted to announce that we shall be closing this road again.
"The last two years have saved the lives of hundreds of amphibians, so I do hope that users of Charlcombe Lane will understand why it is important for Bath & North East Somerset Council to close the road. We apologise for any inconvenience this will cause."
During the road closure, residents will still have full access to their homes and diversion signs will be in place to encourage other vehicles to avoid the lane.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-332490/Roa...
Streaky
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