Lunatic new lane layout on the A12 in Colchester
Discussion
Below is a copy of an email I have sent to Essex County Council Higways Department over the completely idiotic phase-out of the left-hand lane of the Spring Lane on-slip to the A12 - the person that designed it could not possibly hold a driving licence...
Dear Sir/Madam,
I would like to voice my concern, in the strongest possible terms, over the restructuring of the top of the on-slip of the A12 from the Spring Lane roundabout. The phase-out of the nearside lane at the joining point with the A12 is a source of very likely accidents and, for the life of me, I cannot see what good it serves.
Vehicles travelling up the nearside (often slower-moving trucks) are forced to change lane right, just as drivers of vehicles in the outer lane are looking to the right to check for safe egress from the on-slip onto the A12. This means that, at a crucial safety observation point, drivers in the outer lane are going to have to remove their attention from the road that they are joining to check that vehicles on their left are not attempting to move out into their path as the inner lane phases out. Also, whilst the on-slip becomes the first lane of the A12, the new road-shape suggests that it does not. Signage is in place to show this, but it is positioned very close to the points at which drivers must decide their commital tactic.
The old structure of a two-lane on-slip with the inner lane becoming the first lane of the A12 and the outer lane filtering to the second lane was perfectly safe and efficient. This new layout has all the hallmarks of some bizarre 'traffic calming' measure in line with the current Government fetish to reduce speed in the misguided belief that in so doing it will reduce road casualties. I have a deep suspicion that this new layout will do just the opposite...
Josh Greenwold
Member of the Association of British Drivers and SafeSpeed
I will post copies of replies as (if!) I get them...
Dear Sir/Madam,
I would like to voice my concern, in the strongest possible terms, over the restructuring of the top of the on-slip of the A12 from the Spring Lane roundabout. The phase-out of the nearside lane at the joining point with the A12 is a source of very likely accidents and, for the life of me, I cannot see what good it serves.
Vehicles travelling up the nearside (often slower-moving trucks) are forced to change lane right, just as drivers of vehicles in the outer lane are looking to the right to check for safe egress from the on-slip onto the A12. This means that, at a crucial safety observation point, drivers in the outer lane are going to have to remove their attention from the road that they are joining to check that vehicles on their left are not attempting to move out into their path as the inner lane phases out. Also, whilst the on-slip becomes the first lane of the A12, the new road-shape suggests that it does not. Signage is in place to show this, but it is positioned very close to the points at which drivers must decide their commital tactic.
The old structure of a two-lane on-slip with the inner lane becoming the first lane of the A12 and the outer lane filtering to the second lane was perfectly safe and efficient. This new layout has all the hallmarks of some bizarre 'traffic calming' measure in line with the current Government fetish to reduce speed in the misguided belief that in so doing it will reduce road casualties. I have a deep suspicion that this new layout will do just the opposite...
Josh Greenwold
Member of the Association of British Drivers and SafeSpeed
I will post copies of replies as (if!) I get them...
The slip-road from the A34 (just north of Newbury) to the M4 (heading west) at junction 13 has exactly the same layout - two lanes into one at the top of the slip-road.
A single lane slip-road would almost be safer except so many vehicles some to join motorways at too low a speed and a single lane would trap the more sensible drivers down to the lower speeds.
A single lane slip-road would almost be safer except so many vehicles some to join motorways at too low a speed and a single lane would trap the more sensible drivers down to the lower speeds.
I thought the letter was excellent all the way to the "fetish" bit 
. I hope you get a reasoned response that explains this crazy design.
It seems to me that more and more sliproads are being messed about with. I guess it's to reduce the volume of traffic joining the road at that point (so many that used to be 2 lanes are now 1), but there are too many different ways of achieving it and no consistent national design. One that springs to mind is joining the A14 westbound at Kettering where there are 2 lanes off the roundabout but they immediately merge into 1 (inside lane into outside!) without warning. You do wonder who is in charge of the asylum.
. I hope you get a reasoned response that explains this crazy design. It seems to me that more and more sliproads are being messed about with. I guess it's to reduce the volume of traffic joining the road at that point (so many that used to be 2 lanes are now 1), but there are too many different ways of achieving it and no consistent national design. One that springs to mind is joining the A14 westbound at Kettering where there are 2 lanes off the roundabout but they immediately merge into 1 (inside lane into outside!) without warning. You do wonder who is in charge of the asylum.
I'm not exactly sure what layout you're describing, but it seems to be a two-lane slip road being reduced to a single lane, then merging with the mainline. Is that correct?
I'm not sure why such a layout would be implemented. It's common practice to have two lanes on a roundabout exit to allow vehicles from both lanes on the roundabout to leave at the same time, avoiding jousting on the roundabout. But this provision should only be for a few metres after the exit, and the outer lane should be the one that discontinues.
The new standard for the design of grade separated junctions states that two-lane taper merges (the traditional kind of motorway merge) should be removed wherever improvement works take place. So there could be justification for reducing to one lane, but it wouldn't really be good practice to do it at the last minute. If traffic flows only require a single lane merge, why have two lanes on the slip road?
Sounds a little bit strange to me, but I couldn't really give a definative answer without more information (Google Earth doesn't have high-res coverage of the area!).
I'm not sure why such a layout would be implemented. It's common practice to have two lanes on a roundabout exit to allow vehicles from both lanes on the roundabout to leave at the same time, avoiding jousting on the roundabout. But this provision should only be for a few metres after the exit, and the outer lane should be the one that discontinues.
The new standard for the design of grade separated junctions states that two-lane taper merges (the traditional kind of motorway merge) should be removed wherever improvement works take place. So there could be justification for reducing to one lane, but it wouldn't really be good practice to do it at the last minute. If traffic flows only require a single lane merge, why have two lanes on the slip road?
Sounds a little bit strange to me, but I couldn't really give a definative answer without more information (Google Earth doesn't have high-res coverage of the area!).
MGBGT said:
Stuff...
You put it much better than I ever could, this was my immediate thought:
"WTF have they done here? 50 bloody MPH? Where the f### has the inside lane gone? SPEED UP YOU BLOODY NUMPTY! ARRGH! I'm never going this way again, next time I'll take the long way round! Which tosser designed this!"
But what you said works as well.
Hopefully they will reply. But I doubt it.
It is indeed both stupid and dangerous, yesterday I nearly got hit in the side by someone who decided to undertake then noticed the road merged... But luckily just carried on.
Two cars in front, a Merc (middle aged lady driving) swerved for what reason I am not sure whilst travelling along there, and drove along the hard shoulder for a good 100 yards or so then had to brake hard and pull in behind a lorry.
Could ask them why, on the A133 exit, there is only one lane when there is room for two on the approach to the roundabout, seems like a nice congestion point to me...
It is indeed both stupid and dangerous, yesterday I nearly got hit in the side by someone who decided to undertake then noticed the road merged... But luckily just carried on.
Two cars in front, a Merc (middle aged lady driving) swerved for what reason I am not sure whilst travelling along there, and drove along the hard shoulder for a good 100 yards or so then had to brake hard and pull in behind a lorry.
Could ask them why, on the A133 exit, there is only one lane when there is room for two on the approach to the roundabout, seems like a nice congestion point to me...
It's a bloody no-winner! If you know the road layout, you move early to the outside lane, but are then looking for Reps on mobiles merging from the left whilst you should be looking right, or you stay left to the last minute and pray that you have space to merge right into the other stream of Reps on mobiles...KSI's will occur and they will drop the on-slip limit to 40 - you mark my words!
It makes you want to find one of these traffic flow 'designers' and have a sh!t in his handbag!
It makes you want to find one of these traffic flow 'designers' and have a sh!t in his handbag!
I've been watching these roadworks for some weeks and was wondering what they would end up like. WTF have they changed a system that worked perfectly well, and also on the slip off the A12, why have they reduced what was two lanes to one, and then just before you get to the roundabout it suddenly changes to two 
It's as though the road designer has had to change it just for the sake of it, bizarre.
Did you note the new barriers, with the very safe flat ends, so that if you slam in to it you will come to a grinding halt immediately, rather than the traditional armco which was tapered to the ground so the vehicle would ride up it. But the new flat ends have hazard warning tape so you can see them, not much use if you are heading towards them sideways after being involved in an accident. T
What is it with people on the A133 into Colchester, it a NSL people, not 30!
Rant over, breath out....
It's as though the road designer has had to change it just for the sake of it, bizarre. Did you note the new barriers, with the very safe flat ends, so that if you slam in to it you will come to a grinding halt immediately, rather than the traditional armco which was tapered to the ground so the vehicle would ride up it. But the new flat ends have hazard warning tape so you can see them, not much use if you are heading towards them sideways after being involved in an accident. T
What is it with people on the A133 into Colchester, it a NSL people, not 30!
Rant over, breath out....
mazzer3.2 said:
What is it with people on the A133 into Colchester, it a NSL people, not 30!
Rant over, breath out....
Rant over, breath out....
Well, we take that at about 40mph in the Chimaera due to the large(ish) bumps in the road, and discovered that if we slow down for them and speed up, the people behind don't want to slow down for the bumps and we almost collect them.
I can't see them ever reducing that sliproad to a 40, that would be feckin' stupid when approaching an NSL road would it not? Everyone would have to speed to not get involved in an accident travelling too slowly when entering the A12 (not that it seems to prevent some people attempting to join the M25 etc. at 50mph)...
Road designs have gone mad! Not to mention superfluous gaggles of traffic lights springing up where a round-about would do.
Reminds me of the new M5 and M4 crawler lanes that have been added in places, making them 4 lanes wide. Where they return back to 3 lanes (causing a bottle neck) the fourth lane comes to an end and has to merge back into lane 3... ie. the fastest traffic has to brake and squeeze in to their left. Have seen 2 serious accidents at that exact point already.
Good luck with your letter, but I don't think they listen to common sense. The so called expert road design engineers they will listen to.
Have seen some farcical design cock ups around here just lately!
Reminds me of the new M5 and M4 crawler lanes that have been added in places, making them 4 lanes wide. Where they return back to 3 lanes (causing a bottle neck) the fourth lane comes to an end and has to merge back into lane 3... ie. the fastest traffic has to brake and squeeze in to their left. Have seen 2 serious accidents at that exact point already.
Good luck with your letter, but I don't think they listen to common sense. The so called expert road design engineers they will listen to.
Have seen some farcical design cock ups around here just lately!
Your lucky - we get on the A12 at Hatfield Peverel to head North, and often travel South from Witham. The on slips are fairly tight bends and are very short, with the one from Hatfield Peverel having designated parking immediately the on slip finishes. In our everyday car it is impossible to accelerate to the national speed limit on the slip road, and at anywhere near this speed it is impossible to brake to a standstill before the slip road ends and the car parking starts, should you find that the A12 is busy and you can't match your speed to the traffic already on the road.
I am a fairly assertive driver, but it still very often requires the cooperation of the traffic already on the A12 in order to get on. I have seen less assertive or aware drivers drive down the slip road at 30mph and find that the traffic is moving too fast for them to get on, and they have to come to a stop - often with surprised motorists behind them having to come to a halt as well.
Not the safest junction I have ever seen!
I am a fairly assertive driver, but it still very often requires the cooperation of the traffic already on the A12 in order to get on. I have seen less assertive or aware drivers drive down the slip road at 30mph and find that the traffic is moving too fast for them to get on, and they have to come to a stop - often with surprised motorists behind them having to come to a halt as well.
Not the safest junction I have ever seen!
jasandjules said:
I can't see them ever reducing that sliproad to a 40, that would be feckin' stupid when approaching an NSL road would it not? Everyone would have to speed to not get involved in an accident travelling too slowly when entering the A12 .........
But that would then give them the excuse to reduce the speed on the A12 AND slam another tax collection point in.
You don't get this goverment thinking on road policy yet do you
BB
Bigbob, I think I am adopting the Ostrich approach.. Any other would lead to a depressed suicide leap under a car travelling at 25mph just to prove a feckin' point....
I know the Hatfield junction, that is one I immediately proceed to the outside lane. It is risky, and I have seen several near misses on it.
What also gets my goat is this new idea of a pedestrian crossing, 6ft off the exit of a roundabout... FFS I am busy watching the road, plus that 1.1 Nova with baseball capped neandethal trying to undertake me round the roundabout without worrying that as I exit I have an emergency stop and get rear-ended by Ms Blind, the 80yr old micra driver....
I know the Hatfield junction, that is one I immediately proceed to the outside lane. It is risky, and I have seen several near misses on it.
What also gets my goat is this new idea of a pedestrian crossing, 6ft off the exit of a roundabout... FFS I am busy watching the road, plus that 1.1 Nova with baseball capped neandethal trying to undertake me round the roundabout without worrying that as I exit I have an emergency stop and get rear-ended by Ms Blind, the 80yr old micra driver....
jasandjules said:
Bigbob, I think I am adopting the Ostrich approach.. Any other would lead to a depressed suicide leap under a car travelling at 25mph just to prove a feckin' point....
I know the Hatfield junction, that is one I immediately proceed to the outside lane. It is risky, and I have seen several near misses on it.
What also gets my goat is this new idea of a pedestrian crossing, 6ft off the exit of a roundabout... FFS I am busy watching the road, plus that 1.1 Nova with baseball capped neandethal trying to undertake me round the roundabout without worrying that as I exit I have an emergency stop and get rear-ended by Ms Blind, the 80yr old micra driver....
I know the Hatfield junction, that is one I immediately proceed to the outside lane. It is risky, and I have seen several near misses on it.
What also gets my goat is this new idea of a pedestrian crossing, 6ft off the exit of a roundabout... FFS I am busy watching the road, plus that 1.1 Nova with baseball capped neandethal trying to undertake me round the roundabout without worrying that as I exit I have an emergency stop and get rear-ended by Ms Blind, the 80yr old micra driver....
..... and they get another site for a revenue machine - a cunning plan Baldrick
Just goes to prove how much it's about road safety doesn't it.
BB
jasandjules said:
What also gets my goat is this new idea of a pedestrian crossing, 6ft off the exit of a roundabout... FFS I am busy watching the road, plus that 1.1 Nova with baseball capped neandethal trying to undertake me round the roundabout without worrying that as I exit I have an emergency stop and get rear-ended by Ms Blind, the 80yr old micra driver....
See these crossings in many places, just off a roundabout, and always at the start of a dual carriageway when people are itching to floor the accelerator.
Not a very good road safety plan me thinks!
Unless the plan is to get a few new KSI stats as an excuse to install a new scamera ?
jasandjules said:
What also gets my goat is this new idea of a pedestrian crossing, 6ft off the exit of a roundabout... FFS I am busy watching the road, plus that 1.1 Nova with baseball capped neandethal trying to undertake me round the roundabout without worrying that as I exit I have an emergency stop and get rear-ended by Ms Blind, the 80yr old micra driver....
I know what you mean. And then traffic bungs up the roundabout because it wasn't expecting the crossing lights to go red at that point, bringing the whole road system to a halt.
Peter Ward said:
jasandjules said:
What also gets my goat is this new idea of a pedestrian crossing, 6ft off the exit of a roundabout... FFS I am busy watching the road, plus that 1.1 Nova with baseball capped neandethal trying to undertake me round the roundabout without worrying that as I exit I have an emergency stop and get rear-ended by Ms Blind, the 80yr old micra driver....
I know what you mean. And then traffic bungs up the roundabout because it wasn't expecting the crossing lights to go red at that point, bringing the whole road system to a halt.
They've been around these parts for years now, so not a new idea.
The most common ones are Zebra crossings about 20 feet before the round-about. In theory that should work as traffic approaching is already slowing for the round-about, but I think they forgot that traffic exiting has a very poor view and reaction time to people stepping out... oh well, the experts know best?
I was told, half in jest, but I suspect it is true, the planning officer who designed the road system in Colchester does not/did not have a driving license.
I have no problem with zebra crossings before roundabouts, it is the ones on the exit which I cannot understand.. I wait to get rear-ended as I obey one at some stage..
I have no problem with zebra crossings before roundabouts, it is the ones on the exit which I cannot understand.. I wait to get rear-ended as I obey one at some stage..
jasandjules said:
I was told, half in jest, but I suspect it is true, the planning officer who designed the road system in Colchester does not/did not have a driving license.
I have no problem with zebra crossings before roundabouts, it is the ones on the exit which I cannot understand.. I wait to get rear-ended as I obey one at some stage..
I have no problem with zebra crossings before roundabouts, it is the ones on the exit which I cannot understand.. I wait to get rear-ended as I obey one at some stage..
But crossings before round-abouts are the ones on the exits, as they don't stop half way across the road.
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