M42 Polit Bureau Lane
Discussion
What a fantastic idea. Come back down the entire length of the M42 with the Polit Bureau Lane running. The standard of driving is so poor now in this country thanks to the drive by numbers mentality of the police, councils, NHS and court system (operating in partnership with the word safety in the title) that other than a few other PHers no-one was using it. Zipped through the traffic jam in no time - roll it out everywhere I say.
Are they keeping it swept of nuts, bolts, bags of nails dropped off the back of a builder's pickup and great chunks of metal sharded commercial vehicle tyre debris? (Etc.)
If so sounds like a good deal until some numpty takes umbrage at you for 'undertaking' and attempts to force you off into the boondocks.
Now that can be averted by purchasing a large black Limo, preferably a Zil or such like, and flying a flag on the (pedestrian safe) flag poles fitted on the front wings.
If you can arrange it a horde of motorcycle outriders and some ex SAS (or equivalent) body guards travelling in blacked out Range Rovers would also help. That seems to be the normal fast progress convoy requirement.
If so sounds like a good deal until some numpty takes umbrage at you for 'undertaking' and attempts to force you off into the boondocks.
Now that can be averted by purchasing a large black Limo, preferably a Zil or such like, and flying a flag on the (pedestrian safe) flag poles fitted on the front wings.
If you can arrange it a horde of motorcycle outriders and some ex SAS (or equivalent) body guards travelling in blacked out Range Rovers would also help. That seems to be the normal fast progress convoy requirement.
bluepolarbear said:
What a fantastic idea. Come back down the entire length of the M42 with the Polit Bureau Lane running. The standard of driving is so poor now in this country thanks to the drive by numbers mentality of the police, councils, NHS and court system (operating in partnership with the word safety in the title) that other than a few other PHers no-one was using it. Zipped through the traffic jam in no time - roll it out everywhere I say.
I hope your 'zipping' speed allowed for the chance of some-one in the 'inside' lane having a problem with their car and then pulling onto the hard shoulder in front of you.
I can see this crazy scheme causing a major pile-up.
Was there a speed limit posted on the overhead gantries for the hard shoulder and 'inside' lane?
Edited by Philbes on Thursday 5th October 23:14
Philbes said:
bluepolarbear said:
What a fantastic idea. Come back down the entire length of the M42 with the Polit Bureau Lane running. The standard of driving is so poor now in this country thanks to the drive by numbers mentality of the police, councils, NHS and court system (operating in partnership with the word safety in the title) that other than a few other PHers no-one was using it. Zipped through the traffic jam in no time - roll it out everywhere I say.
I hope ypur 'zipping' speed allowed for the chance of some-one in the 'inside' lane having a problem with their car and then pulling onto the hard shoulder in front of you.
I can see this crazy scheme causing a major pile-up.
Was there a speed limit posted on the overhead gantries for the hard shoulder and 'inside' lane?
Yes fully took into account other drivers and as they were all bumper to bumper they had there own issues. The vast majority had no intention of using the HS barring some accident.
The lane was debris free and overhead gantries showing 50 across all four lanes. Main carriageway was doing about 45 bumper to bumper
When I heard about it on the news I thought it was a recipe for disaster and a cheap method of introducing more tarmac but at what price ??.....
...however....
... used it yesterday and I thought it was great and felt very safe in it.
I think this is down to the fact that the limit was put on at 50 MPH (and enforced by GATSO) so everyone was travelling at a very similar speed, the electronic signs were bright and very easy to understand / read and they generally only get you to the next exit off, if you are not coming off you end up getting pushed back into Lane 1 until after the junction on slip when you can slip back into it until the next off slip.
Great idea ! - Roll on M25 I say !
( I do wonder how many people will get out of it quickly enough when there is a collision and the Emerg Services need to get through, hard shoulders are slow enough with them empty on the M25 let alone full of people half in, half out and just half asleep... perhaps I should reserve judgement !!
) LOL
...however....
... used it yesterday and I thought it was great and felt very safe in it.
I think this is down to the fact that the limit was put on at 50 MPH (and enforced by GATSO) so everyone was travelling at a very similar speed, the electronic signs were bright and very easy to understand / read and they generally only get you to the next exit off, if you are not coming off you end up getting pushed back into Lane 1 until after the junction on slip when you can slip back into it until the next off slip.
Great idea ! - Roll on M25 I say !
( I do wonder how many people will get out of it quickly enough when there is a collision and the Emerg Services need to get through, hard shoulders are slow enough with them empty on the M25 let alone full of people half in, half out and just half asleep... perhaps I should reserve judgement !!
) LOLThere were no signs to say "No Heavies" but I don't remember seeing any driving on it either ?
When they build motorways they put in foundations to different depths for Lane 1, 2 and 3 to take the extra weight that the nearside lanes take. I thought hard shoulders were the same depth as Lane 3 and thus HGV's would, in time, damage them - Maybe they relaid them first !?
As for breakdowns, there were cameras EVERYWHERE on the hard shoulder so I got the impression they really were monitoring the traffic flow, as soon as they see a broken down (that hasn't made it to one of the refuge cut aways every 1000 metres or so) then I guess they put up the "LANE CLOSED" signs and tell people to keep out of it ?
Would be interesting if one of the monitoring staff are on PH's and might let us know ?
When they build motorways they put in foundations to different depths for Lane 1, 2 and 3 to take the extra weight that the nearside lanes take. I thought hard shoulders were the same depth as Lane 3 and thus HGV's would, in time, damage them - Maybe they relaid them first !?
As for breakdowns, there were cameras EVERYWHERE on the hard shoulder so I got the impression they really were monitoring the traffic flow, as soon as they see a broken down (that hasn't made it to one of the refuge cut aways every 1000 metres or so) then I guess they put up the "LANE CLOSED" signs and tell people to keep out of it ?
Would be interesting if one of the monitoring staff are on PH's and might let us know ?
Stupid idea IMO. Not only is it using a lane which was always intended as a saftey/rescue resource, but as soon as people cotton onto the idea of using it, there will just be 4 lanes of grid lock rather than three, and with no chance of emergency services getting through at a reasonable speed.
Philbes said:
Are artics allowed on the hard shoulder when it is open for traffic?
If a car driving in the inside lane has the engine die what is the driver supposed to do? Stop in the inside lane or pull in front of the traffic on the hard shoulder?
If a car driving in the inside lane has the engine die what is the driver supposed to do? Stop in the inside lane or pull in front of the traffic on the hard shoulder?
Yes and a few were but in 7 miles of motorway I saw something like 20 vehicles using the lane were as the 3 main carriageways were bumper to bumper. People are just so conditioned that no-one thinks any more while driving.
Camera's are every 500m are there are laybys to "aim" for if in an emergency. If you don't make it they switch off hard shoulder running.
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