Are the BiB ment to do traffic control anymore ?

[MartinD]

I live near J11 M4 which has Reading FC's Madjaski stadium 1/2 mile from it.When Reading play a big match & at last nights England B team match the non local fans arrived down the M4 coming off at J11 which then comes to a complete stand still causing tailbacks for 3+ miles in both directions of the M4. With Reading now promoted to the Premiership it will now happen at least once a week. All it needs is 2/3 BiB to be on point (?) duty to stop drivers from blocking routes around the junction which is traffic light controlled .
Shouldn't the BiB automatically control this to stop the congestion ?, its not as if it cant be predicted.

[lunarscope]

Ha ! From what I've experienced several times recently, they don't even bother to come out for failed traffic lights at major crossroads nowadays. They'd rather there be a serious pile-up than get out of their comfy panda cars.

[Dwight VanDriver]

Martin

Police cover at matches some of it is paid by the Club.

You highlight a problem that the Club, who are causing it,may not be aware of.

Have you considered writing to the Club pointing out your observations.

You never know they may dig into their pockets for that extra cover that may resolve the problem.

dvd

[Philbes]

When did anyone last see a BiB directing traffic?

Approx. 3 years ago there was a major accident that blocked the M5 in both directions just south of Brum.

All the road junctions for miles around were jammed. Drivers were phoning in to local radio stations complaining that the police were still sat in their cars on bridges over the motorway or just turning around to avoid the jams. It took me 2½ hours to drive from Brum to Stroud (usually an hour's journey).

Is there a policy decision that police no longer direct traffic? Are they no longer a public service? Make driving more difficult to force us out of our cars? To what alternative?

[HarryW]

Dwight VanDriver said:

Martin Police cover at matches some of it is paid by the Club. You highlight a problem that the Club, who are causing it,may not be aware of. Have you considered writing to the Club pointing out your observations. You never know they may dig into their pockets for that extra cover that may resolve the problem. dvd

Always wondered about this one myself, yes I can see why clubs would pay for bib in the ground, but why for the streets outside . If you are suggesting that even traffic could be chargeable to the club then where do you draw the line . Shops/stores for having sales, protest marchers etc .
Certainly makes you sit up and wonder where all the money goes. I suppose drivers involved in accidents, when blame is aportioned, will be next to be charged and in the event of their death just add it to the list of creditors to their estate .

First part was a serious question btw

[vonhosen]

HarryW said:

Dwight VanDriver said: Martin Police cover at matches some of it is paid by the Club. You highlight a problem that the Club, who are causing it,may not be aware of. Have you considered writing to the Club pointing out your observations. You never know they may dig into their pockets for that extra cover that may resolve the problem. dvd Always wondered about this one myself, yes I can see why clubs would pay for bib in the ground, but why for the streets outside . If you are suggesting that even traffic could be chargeable to the club then where do you draw the line . Shops/stores for having sales, protest marchers etc . Certainly makes you sit up and wonder where all the money goes. I suppose drivers involved in accidents, when blame is aportioned, will be next to be charged and in the event of their death just add it to the list of creditors to their estate . First part was a serious question btw

We all pay for the Police outside the ground, the club pay for the ones inside the ground.

[chrisgr31]

HarryW said:

Always wondered about this one myself, yes I can see why clubs would pay for bib in the ground, but why for the streets outside . If you are suggesting that even traffic could be chargeable to the club then where do you draw the line . Shops/stores for having sales, protest marchers etc . Certainly makes you sit up and wonder where all the money goes.

I have thought about this too, and also wondered whether it has always been chargeable. Because if not I didn't notice my council tax going down when the Police started charging these costs out!

[xmg5]

I believe I am right in saying that BiB are not trained in point duty at Training Centres anymore. Years ago they were instructed in the use of lawful hand signals and practised the craft of traffic control using other 'students' as cars.

Suffice to say, the modern officer has little need for such duties today and the art of performing point duty on busy junctions is no more.

Edited by xmg5 on Wednesday 7th June 12:26

[Philbes]

There are often situations where a police directing traffic could considerably ease traffic flow - where an accident causes nearby roads to become jammed, for instance. But, as I wrote in an earlier post, I have seen a police car turn around to avoid a jam rather than sort it out.

[xmg5]

In an anorak sort of way I used to enjoy a good point duty, the busier the junction the better. at least you felt that you accomplished something as the traffic flowed and the feeling of control was unbeatable. Yes I know all a bunch of little Hitlers....but it was still good fun AND gave you arms like Popeye.

The Jim'll Fix It of it's day along with Blue Light Runs. All good stuff.

Edited by xmg5 on Tuesday 6th June 15:07

[Raify]

Philbes said:

When did anyone last see a BiB directing traffic?

A couple of weekends ago.

lunarscope said:

Ha ! From what I've experienced several times recently, they don't even bother to come out for failed traffic lights at major crossroads nowadays.

At a major crossroads controlled by traffic lights (that had been knocked down in an accident).

[7db]

Quite often seen C3POs directing traffic at junctions with failed lights.

[Parrot of Doom]

I did a Preston match recently and the police were directing traffic at the lights, so yes it does happen.

[jasandjules]

Last time was a few weeks ago after a crash at a T-Junction on the only road out of my village.. She was hopeless, and nearly caused a crash. A Fireman essentially pushed her out of the way and began directing traffic.

[jith]

xmg5 said:

In an anorak sort of way I used to enjoy a good point duty, the busier the junction the better. at least you felt that you accomplished something as the traffic flowed and the feeling of control was unbeatable. Yes I know all a bunch of little Hitlers....but it was still good fun AND gave you arms like Popeye.

The Jim'll Fix It of it's day along with Blue Light Runs. All good stuff.

Edited by xmg5 on Tuesday 6th June 15:07

I couldn't agree with you more!
Every time I sit at some of the dreadful junctions we have here with ludicrously timed traffic lights, the idiots who block box junctions and the red light jumpers, I think of how a good traffic copper here would have the traffic flowing in minutes.
Across the whole city of Paris every day in the week you see gendarmes appearing as if by magic with their white gloves and whistles and the traffic just starts to flow.
It also has an element of entertainment as well.
Bring it back!!!

[rodney59]

Health and Safety involved here? After all to stand in the middle of a road (T junction or cross road) with traffic coming at you (how many cars slow down on approaching a junction where lights are not working?), thinking they all equally have right of way; has got to be dangerous?