Strange motorways
Discussion
I seem to remember that some years ago there was a suggestion that new motorways shoulc be built with (for example) the southbound carriageway to the west of the northbound. So the central reservation would consist of two crash barriers between the hard shoulders, perhaps with a lane for emergency vehicles between the crash barriers.
The theory was that it would reduce crossover accidents. Apart from the fact that we don't build new motorways in this country anymore the issue would seem to be the extra complexity of entering and leaving the motorway.
Does anyone else remember this suggestion? Is there some reason it wouldn't work or is it just that the small theoretical advantage wouldn't be worth the effort?
Or did I imagine the whole thing?
The theory was that it would reduce crossover accidents. Apart from the fact that we don't build new motorways in this country anymore the issue would seem to be the extra complexity of entering and leaving the motorway.
Does anyone else remember this suggestion? Is there some reason it wouldn't work or is it just that the small theoretical advantage wouldn't be worth the effort?
Or did I imagine the whole thing?
It's Italian, but I think you're maybe referring to this... http://web.tiscali.it/archenzo/motorway/enmotor_wa...
So when joining the motorway, you merge into the overtaking lane?
When leaving the motorway, you do so from the overtaking lane, which you should only be in if you're actually overtaking?
And when you break down, you pull onto the hard shoulder, leave your car, but can't actually get away from the traffic, as per current suggested practice?
When there's a queue to get off the motorway, you have to stop in the overtaking lane, rather than move onto the hard shoulder as is done currently (as per M40 @ Gaydon)
Sounds daft to me.
When leaving the motorway, you do so from the overtaking lane, which you should only be in if you're actually overtaking?
And when you break down, you pull onto the hard shoulder, leave your car, but can't actually get away from the traffic, as per current suggested practice?
When there's a queue to get off the motorway, you have to stop in the overtaking lane, rather than move onto the hard shoulder as is done currently (as per M40 @ Gaydon)
Sounds daft to me.
Doofus said:
So when joining the motorway, you merge into the overtaking lane?
And when you break down, you pull onto the hard shoulder, leave your car, but can't actually get away from the traffic, as per current suggested practice?
Sounds daft to me.
No, the idea was that the slip road is from/to lane 1, potentially complicated construction I agree. As for the hard shoulder, you step over the crash barrier as at present.And when you break down, you pull onto the hard shoulder, leave your car, but can't actually get away from the traffic, as per current suggested practice?
Sounds daft to me.
Dr Jekyll said:
The theory was that it would reduce crossover accidents. Apart from the fact that we don't build new motorways in this country anymore the issue would seem to be the extra complexity of entering and leaving the motorway.
Does anyone else remember this suggestion? Is there some reason it wouldn't work or is it just that the small theoretical advantage wouldn't be worth the effort?
Or did I imagine the whole thing?
MAybe not motorways, but we are constructed in a 88km Dual Carraigeway to Motorway standard. Does anyone else remember this suggestion? Is there some reason it wouldn't work or is it just that the small theoretical advantage wouldn't be worth the effort?
Or did I imagine the whole thing?
The carraigeway cross section is wider than required in standards and is giving a 2.25m strip between Lane 2 and the Barrier.
But switching tha carraigway would take considerable enginering effort and addtioanl cost!
Bloody stupid idea IMO. Would make much more sense to just made a 'median' with a barrier between the northbound fast lane and the median, and another between the median and the southbound fast lane. Much simpler, cheaper and more sensible way of adding space between the fast lanes than trying to put the slow lanes next to each other.
(BTW, for anyone who wants to comment on my use of 'fast lane' for 'overtaking lane number 3' or some other nonsense, there's no need. I used the words I chose on purpose, for clarity in the discussion where we're talking about re-ordering the lanes. Thankyou.)
(BTW, for anyone who wants to comment on my use of 'fast lane' for 'overtaking lane number 3' or some other nonsense, there's no need. I used the words I chose on purpose, for clarity in the discussion where we're talking about re-ordering the lanes. Thankyou.)
6potdave said:
If you didn't have to join in the overtaking lane it would work. However it would cost billions to put into practice and also considering the lack of driving ability from most people in the UK it would just confuse everyone into a pile up. I guess MLM's wouldn't even notice!
If the overtaking lanes were only used for overtaking then it would make sense to me as you'd join or leave the motorway from the lane with the least traffic. In reality, that's what happens right now, because the left lane usually has the least traffic, partly because it's the lane that you join and leave the motorway from.Actually, it would mean that 85% of traffic* joining the motorway would no longer need to instantly swing across two or three lanes to reach their preferred cruising lane.
- rough guesstimate based on personal observations and exaggerated for comedy value
Nickyboy said:
How about actually building them with more than 6ft and a barrier between carriageways? I mean how much extra is it to make a 40ft grass median like in the US.
Agree. Maybe not enough space for the gap between carriageways but if you heightened the barrier then you'd also cut out all the rubber necking accidents on the other side of the motorway when you have a pile up.
Doofus said:
America has the space. In the UK, houses are more profitable than grass verges.
I think you'll find that most of the motorway miles in the UK are not bordered by houses so closely that they couldn't have put a median down the middle.Urban motorways, yup I agree with you. But most motorways are not urban.
All you lot that are banging on about joining the overtaking lane, have you actually looked at the plans????
You join from the centre of the two carriageways, but because the direction is reversed your still joining the "slow" lane (lane 1), your just driving up the right hand side instead of the left hand side....
You join from the centre of the two carriageways, but because the direction is reversed your still joining the "slow" lane (lane 1), your just driving up the right hand side instead of the left hand side....
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