M5 this morning... WTF?
Discussion
Driving north on the M5 this morning, just going past the Tewkesbury turning, and all the cars were queing on the hard shoulder to pull onto the slip road.
dont get me wrong, it worked a treat, the motorway flowed beautifully, but have I missed something here?
ETA: When I say missed, I want to know if its suddenly become legal to use the hard shoulder as a 4th lane!
dont get me wrong, it worked a treat, the motorway flowed beautifully, but have I missed something here?
ETA: When I say missed, I want to know if its suddenly become legal to use the hard shoulder as a 4th lane!
Edited by big_russ on Wednesday 31st October 00:12
Try this link. Looks set to stay. http://politics.guardian.co.uk/homeaffairs/story/0...
A good idea for exitinga busy road but not so good for the emergency services if there's an accident.
A good idea for exitinga busy road but not so good for the emergency services if there's an accident.
big_russ said:
Driving north on the M5 this morning, just going past the Tewkesbury turning, and all the cars were queing on the hard shoulder to pull onto the slip road.
dont get me wrong, it worked a treat, the motorway flowed beautifully, but have I missed something here?
ETA: When I say missed, I want to know if its suddenly become legal to use the hard shoulder as a 4th lane!
Very nice to see the general public implementing a government action before it actually is enacted. dont get me wrong, it worked a treat, the motorway flowed beautifully, but have I missed something here?
ETA: When I say missed, I want to know if its suddenly become legal to use the hard shoulder as a 4th lane!
Edited by big_russ on Wednesday 31st October 00:12
I think it comes about because no-one wants the be the only car stopped with their ass in lane 1 and people heading towards them at 70. So the put it a bit in the hard shoulder. The next person joins the back of the queue in the hard shoulder. It's probably safer than stopping in lane 1 but it's still against the rules to stop in the hard shoulder.
At least you`re still alive to pay the fine 
A good idea. I`ve quite often been queuing on the inside lane of a motorway. I hang back a little to allow myself the opportunity of diving into the hard shoulder to take refuge in the event of screeching tyres from behind (rather than being "jammed in" close to the bumper of the car in front).
Henry
A good idea. I`ve quite often been queuing on the inside lane of a motorway. I hang back a little to allow myself the opportunity of diving into the hard shoulder to take refuge in the event of screeching tyres from behind (rather than being "jammed in" close to the bumper of the car in front).Henry
Henry-F said:
At least you`re still alive to pay the fine A good idea. I`ve quite often been queuing on the inside lane of a motorway. I hang back a little to allow myself the opportunity of diving into the hard shoulder to take refuge in the event of screeching tyres from behind (rather than being "jammed in" close to the bumper of the car in front).
Henry
Good point. The other fines for staying alive are known as taxes. A good idea. I`ve quite often been queuing on the inside lane of a motorway. I hang back a little to allow myself the opportunity of diving into the hard shoulder to take refuge in the event of screeching tyres from behind (rather than being "jammed in" close to the bumper of the car in front).Henry
It happens on lots of motorways at peak times. M40 J14 southbound is my nearest. The only problem is when newbies don't realise what's going on and actually think they can turn off from the inside lane instead of joining the hard shoulder queue!!! Whoever thought of putting sliproads for 2 junctions within 1/2 mile should be shot.
If junctions were designed more sensibly then it wouldn't be necessary. As it is, it's the general public demonstrating its ability to outthink the bureaucrats and do something sensible. If only we were allowed to think more often.
If junctions were designed more sensibly then it wouldn't be necessary. As it is, it's the general public demonstrating its ability to outthink the bureaucrats and do something sensible. If only we were allowed to think more often.
Peter Ward said:
It happens on lots of motorways at peak times. M40 J14 southbound is my nearest. The only problem is when newbies don't realise what's going on and actually think they can turn off from the inside lane instead of joining the hard shoulder queue!!! Whoever thought of putting sliproads for 2 junctions within 1/2 mile should be shot.
If junctions were designed more sensibly then it wouldn't be necessary. As it is, it's the general public demonstrating its ability to outthink the bureaucrats and do something sensible. If only we were allowed to think more often.
Junctions 13-15 are annoying at best and dangerous at worst. Despite the great big signs at the top of the J13 sliproad, people still manage to take out the sign on the other side of the road.If junctions were designed more sensibly then it wouldn't be necessary. As it is, it's the general public demonstrating its ability to outthink the bureaucrats and do something sensible. If only we were allowed to think more often.
Using the hard shoulders for traffic only using the stretch between 14 and 15 would save a lot of aggro, but it obviously far too sensible
Peter Ward said:
It happens on lots of motorways at peak times. M40 J14 southbound is my nearest. The only problem is when newbies don't realise what's going on and actually think they can turn off from the inside lane instead of joining the hard shoulder queue!!! Whoever thought of putting sliproads for 2 junctions within 1/2 mile should be shot.
If junctions were designed more sensibly then it wouldn't be necessary. As it is, it's the general public demonstrating its ability to outthink the bureaucrats and do something sensible. If only we were allowed to think more often.
with over half of all motorway deaths occuring on the hard shoulder, you won't find me queuing there. It is an accident waiting to happen I suspect during the fog that oftens frequents that stretch.If junctions were designed more sensibly then it wouldn't be necessary. As it is, it's the general public demonstrating its ability to outthink the bureaucrats and do something sensible. If only we were allowed to think more often.
bluepolarbear said:
Peter Ward said:
It happens on lots of motorways at peak times. M40 J14 southbound is my nearest. The only problem is when newbies don't realise what's going on and actually think they can turn off from the inside lane instead of joining the hard shoulder queue!!! Whoever thought of putting sliproads for 2 junctions within 1/2 mile should be shot.
If junctions were designed more sensibly then it wouldn't be necessary. As it is, it's the general public demonstrating its ability to outthink the bureaucrats and do something sensible. If only we were allowed to think more often.
with over half of all motorway deaths occuring on the hard shoulder, you won't find me queuing there. It is an accident waiting to happen I suspect during the fog that oftens frequents that stretch.If junctions were designed more sensibly then it wouldn't be necessary. As it is, it's the general public demonstrating its ability to outthink the bureaucrats and do something sensible. If only we were allowed to think more often.
Peter Ward said:
It happens on lots of motorways at peak times. M40 J14 southbound is my nearest. The only problem is when newbies don't realise what's going on and actually think they can turn off from the inside lane instead of joining the hard shoulder queue!!! Whoever thought of putting sliproads for 2 junctions within 1/2 mile should be shot.
If junctions were designed more sensibly then it wouldn't be necessary. As it is, it's the general public demonstrating its ability to outthink the bureaucrats and do something sensible. If only we were allowed to think more often.
Hard shoulder queueing happens on the continent too - about time Brussels came up with a directive about it not being H&S approved etc etc. If junctions were designed more sensibly then it wouldn't be necessary. As it is, it's the general public demonstrating its ability to outthink the bureaucrats and do something sensible. If only we were allowed to think more often.
The hard shoulder may be dangerous but surely not half a dangerous as queueing in a running lane to get off the motorway?
Munter said:
bluepolarbear said:
Munter said:
You think it's safer to stop with the car in lane 1?
Nope I leave at J14, on the very rare occasions this is not possible I leave at J13 and return to 15. More often than not I will leave at J15. The exact option will depend on traffic but under no circumstances will include increasing the risk to my life by stopping on the hard shoulder.I've no doubt that most fatalities on the motorway occur on the hard shoulder. But i suspect most of those are for other reasons than queueing for an exit on the hard shoulder. But as you say the safest thing is to never stop anywhere on the motorway.
bluepolarbear said:
Munter said:
You think it's safer to stop with the car in lane 1?
Nope I leave at J14, on the very rare occasions this is not possible I leave at J13 and return to 15. More often than not I will leave at J15.
Edited by joewilliams on Thursday 1st November 23:38
You learn something everyday - I do about 1000 miles a week on motorways and have never seen cars queueing on the hard shoulder! I see alot zip past trying to beat the queue, but never a queue formed.
Junction 16 M5 Northbound just before the M4 interchange, the first lane is solid every morning for about a mile or so, all trying to get off for the business parks near Bradley Stoke.
What I don't understand is, why can't we build extra slip roads for busy junctions? Why not have 2 or 3 slip roads at 1 mile intervals before the one that's always clogged up, then we can all filter off safely.
I personally don't think blocking off the hard shoulder is a good idea, it's there for a reason after all. Better to widen motorways and build more exit slip roads, Ten miles apart is ridiculous. Any collisions/congestion and you're bolloxed!
Or even better build more motorways, we're running Forty years behind the times as it is!
Junction 16 M5 Northbound just before the M4 interchange, the first lane is solid every morning for about a mile or so, all trying to get off for the business parks near Bradley Stoke.
What I don't understand is, why can't we build extra slip roads for busy junctions? Why not have 2 or 3 slip roads at 1 mile intervals before the one that's always clogged up, then we can all filter off safely.
I personally don't think blocking off the hard shoulder is a good idea, it's there for a reason after all. Better to widen motorways and build more exit slip roads, Ten miles apart is ridiculous. Any collisions/congestion and you're bolloxed!
Or even better build more motorways, we're running Forty years behind the times as it is!
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