RE: M-way screens to stop rubbernecking
RE: M-way screens to stop rubbernecking
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Jazoli

Original Poster:

9,664 posts

280 months

Thursday 27th December 2012
quotequote all
As reported by the BBC

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20851775



The sets of screens will hide the scenes of accidents on motorways
More than 3,000 screens have been bought by the Highways Agency to stop drivers in England rubbernecking when passing motorway accidents.

The partitions will be put up to deter drivers who slow down to look at crashes on the opposite carriageway and therefore slow down the traffic behind.

They form part of a Department for Transport initiative to improve accident clear-up times.

The government said the screens would "keep the motorways flowing".

The DfT's CLEAR - collision, lead, evaluate, act and reopen - initiative was launched last year to help ensure motorways and roads reopen quickly following major accidents.

As part of this scheme, 105 sets of incident screens will be made available for use by the Highways Agency next year.

'Great advantage'

Each set has 30 screens which are loaded onto purpose-built trailers and can screen up to 75m if used end-to-end. The individual screens are approximately 2.1m by 2m high.

The total cost of the purchase was £2.3m, with each set costing £22,000.

Roads minister Stephen Hammond said: "This will be another great advantage to hopefully clearing up collisions but also getting the roads moving rather more quickly afterwards.

"People will recognise these screens, recognise that something's happening behind it, but actually realise it won't impact on their motorway - there's nothing to see, and we want to keep the motorways flowing."

RAC Foundation director, Stephen Glaister, said the use of the screens should be welcomed.

"Incident screens reduce disruption to traffic following an incident [and] assist the emergency services," he said.

"Ensuring that motorists not involved in an incident complete their journeys safely and on time is important.

"The economy relies on an efficient road network. Traffic jams following incidents increase frustration and the risk of low speed collisions.


Seems like a good idea to me

Riley Blue

23,205 posts

256 months

Thursday 27th December 2012
quotequote all
If it keeps the traffic moving it's a worthwhile idea.

SSBB

698 posts

186 months

Thursday 27th December 2012
quotequote all
Over £700 a screen. Couldn't they have wrapped a tarp over a wire fence with some concrete feet?

Jazoli

Original Poster:

9,664 posts

280 months

Thursday 27th December 2012
quotequote all
charltjr said:
Hidden on one of ph's many pointless sub forums in my defence smile

Willy Nilly

12,511 posts

197 months

Thursday 27th December 2012
quotequote all
it won't stop people rubber necking, it will just stop them seeing anything.

Tc24

533 posts

169 months

Thursday 27th December 2012
quotequote all
£22,000 a set... How!?

Give me some polythene, wood and a few nails and I'll make them for £1,000 a set.

Other than the absurd cost, I'm all for it.

Pulse

10,922 posts

248 months

Thursday 27th December 2012
quotequote all
People will just try even harder to see something.

Contigo

3,139 posts

239 months

Thursday 27th December 2012
quotequote all
Great now we will have people staring at the screens knowing full well it's a fatality!

soad

34,678 posts

206 months

Thursday 27th December 2012
quotequote all
£22k a set?! Are they made out of gold?

V88Dicky

7,373 posts

213 months

Thursday 27th December 2012
quotequote all
Can't they just fence up the central reservation?

Might cost a bob or two mind.

StottyZr

6,860 posts

193 months

Thursday 27th December 2012
quotequote all
Sounds like a good idea to me, we'll see if it actually works in practice.

Lorry drivers will still get to see the events unfolding though.

craigjm

21,509 posts

230 months

Thursday 27th December 2012
quotequote all
Gaz. said:
This. We already have people slowing to a crawl to look at a HATO parked up on the other carriageway.
+1

Turn7

25,737 posts

251 months

Thursday 27th December 2012
quotequote all
Willy Nilly said:
it won't stop people rubber necking, it will just stop them seeing anything.
Yep.

mrmr96

13,736 posts

234 months

Thursday 27th December 2012
quotequote all
Contigo said:
Great now we will have people staring at the screens knowing full well it's a fatality!
Won't just be used at fatalities?

mrmr96

13,736 posts

234 months

Thursday 27th December 2012
quotequote all
SSBB said:
Over £700 a screen. Couldn't they have wrapped a tarp over a wire fence with some concrete feet?
No, because they need to be fast to deploy and take up, and fit on a lorry, and not intrude on the carriageway too much (so feet design needs to be good). And not blow over in the wind.

marmitemania

1,571 posts

172 months

Thursday 27th December 2012
quotequote all
How the fk do they arrive at £22000 per set. They look like glorified Herras panels which you can buy brand new for around £20 a piece so even if you ramped it up to the obscene price of £300 each to cover the tarp the foot and the clipping system which will be very similar no doubt, it still only comes to £9000 per set. fk me with a rough cut lenght of wood our government does know how to spend our money. I bet the stuffs made in the Fatherland or anywhere apart from here.

0a

24,139 posts

224 months

Thursday 27th December 2012
quotequote all
Might make people look even more as the screens signal real carnage, bodies being carried off, helicopters etc

mrmr96

13,736 posts

234 months

Thursday 27th December 2012
quotequote all
0a said:
Might make people look even more as the screens signal real carnage, bodies being carried off, helicopters etc
Surely the point will be that with 3,000 sets their use can be routine (i.e. not just at fatals). After a time people will learn that there's nothing to see, so will eventually help reduce rubber necking.

ensignia

946 posts

265 months

Thursday 27th December 2012
quotequote all
marmitemania said:
How the fk do they arrive at £22000 per set. They look like glorified Herras panels which you can buy brand new for around £20 a piece so even if you ramped it up to the obscene price of £300 each to cover the tarp the foot and the clipping system which will be very similar no doubt, it still only comes to £9000 per set. fk me with a rough cut lenght of wood our government does know how to spend our money. I bet the stuffs made in the Fatherland or anywhere apart from here.
This isn't the comments section of The Daily Mail, mate.