There has to be a better way - Traffic censuses

[V8forweekends]

Massive tailbacks on M1 and A46 in Leicestershire caused by traffic censuses -


http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Drivers-caught-m...

Police had to suspend it for a while for safety! Surely there has to be a better way to gather statistics to help the planners to ruin our journeys even more?

[Tyre Tread]

I've been caught in them twice recently but on the A6 near Harborough and one of the back roads. The delays were not as bad but still irritating however ncessary to gather data.

Obvious some don't understand the function of the census though when they make comments like 'I appreciate they might have to carry out the census but they should give notice so people can take alternative routes.'

[devnull]

Yes, I was caught in one of these on the A331 Farnham Road a while back. 5 miles of queues, which led to a road census. Tried my best to not make contact with the officers as I went past as I was due to chair a meeting that day.

[Dave Hedgehog]

do you have to do them or can you tell them to sling it ?

[williamp]

Dave Hedgehog said:

do you have to do them or can you tell them to sling it ?

The police tell you to stop, do you must comply with that. But they wont know if you give mickey mouse answers or not

[Tyre Tread]

You must take part. That's why the Police are there.

The where are you going/where are you coming from and do you travel this route daily at same times etc I understand but why should I tell them which mobile phone provider I use?

Also, giving the postcode of where I came from and am going to should be enouh with the house number.

[V8forweekends]

Tyre Tread said:

Obvious some don't understand the function of the census though when they make comments like 'I appreciate they might have to carry out the census but they should give notice so people can take alternative routes.'

Yes, that made me snigger. I get that they can ask people about stuff that is actually happening on the given day, but I remain unconvinced of the value of data gathered.

We've just had a Questionnaire about how kids get to school - for a start off, it 100% fails to recognise that patterns and even modes of transport are different on different days. On days when I take my kid to school we quite often walk, sometimes the whole way, sometimes part - same on the way back, so she can get a go on the play park and some exercise ,and the habit of walking places. Days when her Mum takes/collects her are never like this.

[V8forweekends]

Tyre Tread said:

You must take part. That's why the Police are there.

The where are you going/where are you coming from and do you travel this route daily at same times etc I understand but why should I tell them which mobile phone provider I use?

Also, giving the postcode of where I came from and am going to should be enouh with the house number.

There is absolutely no way they'd know if every single answer was a total lie though. I have also heard of people point blank refusing to answer - don't think there's anything they can do to "make" you.

I'd be happier if I thought there was any chance of participating would ease future journeys (or at least not make them worse) but evidence seems to point to the contrary.

[Tyre Tread]

Seems you have to stop for Mr Plod but don't have to participate. Wish I'd known that.

See here: http://www.pistonheads.com/GASSING/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[xRIEx]

Tyre Tread said:

You must take part. That's why the Police are there.

The where are you going/where are you coming from and do you travel this route daily at same times

What if the answers are, "I'm going to a job interview so I could get off the dole, well I was but your census has delayed me so I've missed my appointment so I'm not going there any more," or, "the hospital, because my wife is currently giving birth on the back seat of my car," etc. etc.

[ChasW]

In a way I'd like to see more data collection (assuming it would be used properly of course). Where I live the local authorities have turned a blind eye to traffic issues. Reluctantly, we used to drive our kids to school and clog up the roads like many others in the same position. Then they put a school bus service in place that was priced in such a way that it was uneconomic for any family with 2 or more kids between 11 and 18 so we continued driving. Previously we lived further out (3 miles from the school) and we were entitled to a token mileage allowance in compensation for lack of school bus services. When I claimed it I was reimbursed for half what I expected. When I questioned the council they replied that the allowance was only paid for journeys when the kids were in the car even though ours were always return journeys to home as my wife did not work. Crazy. The policy makers were so poorly informed.

[s2sol]

I used to work on these censuses as a student in London in the early 1990's. Wee used to get dog's abuse all day, every day. It was pretty good money, and quite good fun.

The police were generally pulling people over for their own amusement, rather than to get a representative selection of the travelling public.

[V8forweekends]

s2sol said:

I used to work on these censuses as a student in London in the early 1990's. Wee used to get dog's abuse all day, every day. It was pretty good money, and quite good fun.

The police were generally pulling people over for their own amusement, rather than to get a representative selection of the travelling public.

As I suspected - they are probably about as reliable as many of the "surveys" I did as a student.....

[Sheepshanks]

I love the comment from the charity worker who missed an important meeting:
"I appreciate they might have to carry out the census but they should give notice so people can take alternative routes."


One of these took place on the M56 on the approach to Manchester Airport a few years ago. People were stuck for hours and loads missed flights.

[Slidingpillar]

I've been caught in the wild of Wales. Bit of a giggle really

What was the reason for your journey?

Me: To buy the car on the trailer.

How often do you make this trip

Me: This was the first time I've been here, and I don't plan to return

So I rather doubt my tale helped anyone. Traffic very light and there was no queuing.

[Motorrad]

I vaguely remember being stopped for one years ago and just saying I'm too busy for this, haven't you got anything better to do etc etc and the guy just wrote something on his clipboard (tt probably ) and let me go on my way.