A Q for the BiB - why so long to clear an accident
Discussion
Guys
I've always wanted to ask this but never got around to it. It's not a criticism, but I have to ask after an incident last night.
Going home on the M4 west bound at Reading in rush hour there was an accident at the top of the exit ramp at J12. 1 lorry rear ended another. Both appeared intact though the smashed windscreen looked like trucker 2 had done a good head butt job. No ambulance so they had already left the scene.
So there was possibly some injury, a few photos and measurements then surely you move the vehicles??????
Basically the rush hour M4 could have had a major incident as the queue to get off was several miles long with some drivers missing the start of the queue then trying to get in further up. Wrong but human nature.
Personally I was pleased to get off the carriageway as the rest of the traffic shot past. When I asked a BiB who was busy putting out cones whether it was a bad one as there was miles of stationery traffic behind, he said 'yes, we can't do anything about it'!
When I got to the lorries at the top of the ramp, they were intact, the Firebrigade were just standing around as well as another couple of coppers.
Surely you take the pics, a few measurements, then pull the bloody things out of the way to prevent another accident????? They were blocking 3 lanes out of 4 at the roundabout. Why was 1 guy left on his own running around with cones when some common sense would have meant someone looked down the busy M4 to see 1 stationery lane and 2 moving, and think 'hmmmmm we'd better move these'!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
Yours perplexed.
Skid
I've always wanted to ask this but never got around to it. It's not a criticism, but I have to ask after an incident last night.
Going home on the M4 west bound at Reading in rush hour there was an accident at the top of the exit ramp at J12. 1 lorry rear ended another. Both appeared intact though the smashed windscreen looked like trucker 2 had done a good head butt job. No ambulance so they had already left the scene.
So there was possibly some injury, a few photos and measurements then surely you move the vehicles??????
Basically the rush hour M4 could have had a major incident as the queue to get off was several miles long with some drivers missing the start of the queue then trying to get in further up. Wrong but human nature.
Personally I was pleased to get off the carriageway as the rest of the traffic shot past. When I asked a BiB who was busy putting out cones whether it was a bad one as there was miles of stationery traffic behind, he said 'yes, we can't do anything about it'!
When I got to the lorries at the top of the ramp, they were intact, the Firebrigade were just standing around as well as another couple of coppers.
Surely you take the pics, a few measurements, then pull the bloody things out of the way to prevent another accident????? They were blocking 3 lanes out of 4 at the roundabout. Why was 1 guy left on his own running around with cones when some common sense would have meant someone looked down the busy M4 to see 1 stationery lane and 2 moving, and think 'hmmmmm we'd better move these'!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
Yours perplexed.
Skid
The only thing I can think of is that one of the lorries needed recovering and was unable to move.
Usual procedure, after casualties have been dealt with is to examine the scene, take measurements, which doesnt take that long, and move the vehicles to a safe place, or have them recovered.
Obviously if it is a fatac then the area is dealt with as a crime scene which does take some time.
Rest assured it wasn't because the Police couldn't be arsed (not that I am suggesting you said that) as standing on a motorway is not most officers idea of fun.
It does get a bit annoying when you have just scraped a body from the tarmac in bits to have someone tutting and whingeing about waiting for another few minutes. (Again, not suggesting you are
)
Mike.
Usual procedure, after casualties have been dealt with is to examine the scene, take measurements, which doesnt take that long, and move the vehicles to a safe place, or have them recovered.
Obviously if it is a fatac then the area is dealt with as a crime scene which does take some time.
Rest assured it wasn't because the Police couldn't be arsed (not that I am suggesting you said that) as standing on a motorway is not most officers idea of fun.
It does get a bit annoying when you have just scraped a body from the tarmac in bits to have someone tutting and whingeing about waiting for another few minutes. (Again, not suggesting you are
) Mike.
ha ha,
No wasn't suggesting anything you said.
Was wondering what the current legislation/thinking on all this was as in the good old days (70's and into 80's) a copper would run around with a broom removing glass then move any vehicles or enlist the help of a passing truck to pull something out of the way then wave everyone through.
Last night was two small lorries (not hgv's) with little obvious damage. Even if 1 was working it would have helped.
I'm not ranting but was perplexed at the fire fighters apathetic chatting and the need to cone off 3 lanes out of 4. The wagons were on foreign plates, would that prevent anyone moving them?
Yours, still scratching head,
Skid
No wasn't suggesting anything you said.
Was wondering what the current legislation/thinking on all this was as in the good old days (70's and into 80's) a copper would run around with a broom removing glass then move any vehicles or enlist the help of a passing truck to pull something out of the way then wave everyone through.
Last night was two small lorries (not hgv's) with little obvious damage. Even if 1 was working it would have helped.
I'm not ranting but was perplexed at the fire fighters apathetic chatting and the need to cone off 3 lanes out of 4. The wagons were on foreign plates, would that prevent anyone moving them?
Yours, still scratching head,
Skid
As Mike has quite rightly pointed out, there could, and often is a million and one reasons why it takes a long time.
Whenever we deal with RTA's involving Lorries (and by this i mean vehicles with air brakes), it seldom seams to be straighforward and is often the case, people drive past and think, 'what are they doing, ive been sat in traffic for the last hour and all they are doing is standing around'.
Very difficult unless you know exactly what has been going on and what the problem is.
Whenever we deal with RTA's involving Lorries (and by this i mean vehicles with air brakes), it seldom seams to be straighforward and is often the case, people drive past and think, 'what are they doing, ive been sat in traffic for the last hour and all they are doing is standing around'.
Very difficult unless you know exactly what has been going on and what the problem is.
Without meaning to make the job sound anything other than it is; once the guy's has 'moved on to the afterlife', why is there then a crime scene created?
The dead guy cannot be brought back to life, or saved at that point. I appreciate this may sound like a heartless question, but it is a genuine one.
The dead guy cannot be brought back to life, or saved at that point. I appreciate this may sound like a heartless question, but it is a genuine one.
silverback mike said:
Nope, shouldn't prevent them moving the vehicles. I am scratching my head also skid.
I have wielded many a brush on a road. (and indeed have had many nasty things stuck on the bristles)
Oooh ... Yuck!
Granted if there's bit's of 'bods then it's a long drawn out job and don't want to demean it.
I guess the other nights probs could have been air brakes. But 2 lorries stalled?
Anyway we shall never know.
Cheers all for the comments.
Skid
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