Motorway signs. Seriously WTF

[krunchkin]

I know this has been said here before - but , seriously, why do the Highways Agency use the motorway matrixes to tell outright lies?

I was driving down from Buxton to London this morning in the thick of the snow and from Derby onwards all the M1 matrixes said SEVERE DELAYS J22-17

Now my trusty TomTom with live traffic - which thankfully I have learned to trust 99% of the time - said the road was clear, there was nothing on local traffic radio, so I pressed on. And - needless to say- there was nothing, not even a hint of a traffic jam.

Now lying about obstructions in road, debris in carriageway etc is one thing - but putting up info that could have potentially had motorway users switching to A and B roads that were potentially much more snowed up and dangerous is madness. Why do they do it?..

[Otispunkmeyer]

It is all automated isn't it?


So usual rules apply:

Only as good as the guy who programmed it
GIGO (garbage in garbage out)
etc...


Snow could have blocked a sensor, tricking it into thinking the road is full of stationary cars. Who knows.

[saaby93]

Its been done before. Apparantly although they turn the signs on when there is a problem, they cant turn them off until someones done a run through.
Are there cameras?

[V6Paul]

4/5 days a week the sign before the junction I get off the M11 says queue on sliproad. Maybe 1/5 days there are more than 1 or 2 cars waiting at the lights at the end of the sliproad... Does seem a bit strange!

[Riley Blue]

krunchkin said:

Now my trusty TomTom with live traffic - which thankfully I have learned to trust 99% of the time ...

If you can get your TomTom to connect to Live Traffic 99% of the time you're in a minority of one

[krunchkin]

Really? Yours must be dodgy. Mine works absolutely fine all the time, maybe the odd dropout in London some mornings, but generally very reliable

[krunchkin]

saaby93 said:

Its been done before. Apparantly although they turn the signs on when there is a problem, they cant turn them off until someones done a run through.
Are there cameras?

It's the M1 FFS - it's absolutely covered in cameras. They must be able to spot the state of the road without sending a vehicle down to confirm it

[civicduty]

Riley Blue said:

krunchkin said:

Now my trusty TomTom with live traffic - which thankfully I have learned to trust 99% of the time ...

If you can get your TomTom to connect to Live Traffic 99% of the time you're in a minority of one

Mine too works all the time, are you sure you haven't just let the subscription lapse?

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

I can confirm M1 was closed s/bound at J17 about 09.00. Queue was back to J19

Perhaps they just forgot to update.

[kambites]

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

I can confirm M1 was closed s/bound at J17 about 09.00. Queue was back to J19

Perhaps they just forgot to update.

I think that's the usual problem - the notices go up when something is wrong then stay up until someone realises that they're still there a week later.

[collateral]

'Don't drink and drive' - when you're already tanking down the m40 it might be a bit late

[Shaw Tarse]

collateral said:

'Don't drink and drive' - when you're already tanking down the m40 it might be a bit late

Would you like another

[Mr2Mike]

kambites said:

I think that's the usual problem - the notices go up when something is wrong then stay up until someone realises that they're still there a week later.

If they leave it up long enough it's bound to be correct at some stage, a bit like a stopped clock

[E500 TAT]

The ones i saw on M1 today said 'severe weather warning'

No st sherlock!

[AlexRS2782]

Late morning on the M3 London bound today one of the matrix signs was displaying "Fog". At worst there was light sleet if anything and it was quite bright with not an excessive amount of spray.

[g3org3y]

krunchkin said:

Now lying about obstructions in road, debris in carriageway etc is one thing - but putting up info that could have potentially had motorway users switching to A and B roads that were potentially much more snowed up and dangerous is madness. Why do they do it?..

Agreed. Pathetic state of affairs.

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

Perhaps they just forgot to update.

Terrible excuse imo. Surely their responsibility to actually do their job!?

I see this situation on an all too frequent basis tbh.

[Meths]

[jamei303]

I've had the opposite. A1 closed in both directions and for a hundred miles before the signs say st like "EXPECT DELAYS A69 19th DEC DUE TO EVENT"

[The Badger]

Send the Highways Agency an email asking what the score is. Would love to see if/what they get back with.

[Andehh]

M25 yesterday....

IS YOUR CAR
READY FOR WINTER


Bit fking late now if it isn't...