RE: Highways Agency damned by MPs
Wednesday 29th June 2005
Not enough is being done, say MPsBritain's Highways Agency takes the blame for traffic congestion and middle lane morons in a damning report by MPs published today. According to the Public Accounts Committee, the agency shows a lack of urgency when dealing with traffic jam hotspots, poor implementation of technology and badly managed pilot schemes.
Highways Agency damned by MPs
Congestion and middle lane morons are HA's fault: report
Not enough is being done, say MPs
Entitled 'Tackling congestion by making better use of England's motorways and trunk roads', the report says that Britain is now well behind its European counterparts, and that jams cost UK business £3 billion annually. Where France, Germany and the Netherlands have implemented or are in the process of introducing measures such as driving on the hard shoulder to alleviate jams, and signs warning drivers well ahead of time so they can take alternative routes, the agency has been found wanting.
Other specific criticisms include doing nothing about drivers hogging the middle lane, HGVs doing the long-distance overtake at miniscule differential speeds, and pilot schemes being "poorly designed and managed, leading to inconclusive results". There's a regional bias too. According to the report, there is more high-tech signage in the north, despite the south-east being where most of the congestion is, especially on motorways.
The report recommends more rigorous pilot testing of high-occupancy vehicle lanes and ramp metering -- using traffic lights to control flow onto the motorway. It says that the agency should do more work to inform motorists why speed limits remain in force next to road works that are "not actively worked on".
And finally, it damns the agency for being too close to industry lobby groups -- such as motoring organisations and freight transport groups -- and does not accord the views of ordinary motorists enough weight, according to the report.
Discussion
Good to see a parliamentary commitee doing its job, i.e. kicking ministers and civil servants up the arse. It's quite something for a non-specialist panel to not only criticise the way a dept approaches its work, but to actually make specific policy recommendations ... i.e. wading right in to the nuts and bolts of policy in which the dept is supposed to have expertise. Highway Agency should find that humiliating if they take any pride at all in their work.
Article said:
There's a regional bias too. According to the report, there is more high-tech signage in the north, despite the south-east being where most of the congestion is, especially on motorways.
Perhaps the high tech signage is doing its job and alleviating congestion in the north.
What has happened to building new motorways on the south coast too ? 60 mile journeys taking 2 hours are not uncommon on A roads in Dorset/Somerset/Devon eg Bournemouth to Exeter. 2 motorways are needed - extend the M27 to Exeter and then a north link to the M4 say Dorchester to Bath.
Still think something should be done about the ar
les who sit in the centre lane at about 50 - 60 with inside lane totally clear and show no intension of moving over.
Couldn't the overhead signs be used to remind them ??
I am sure the Highway Code (remember that ??) says that you should move over when it is safe to do.
les who sit in the centre lane at about 50 - 60 with inside lane totally clear and show no intension of moving over. Couldn't the overhead signs be used to remind them ??
I am sure the Highway Code (remember that ??) says that you should move over when it is safe to do.
Problem is that is all stems from being a learner IMO.
Once learners have passed their test, make it compulsary that they have to take a 1-2 hour extension to that, by the driving school which makes them drive on the motorway before their licence is issued to ensure they are confident enough to be on there and learn about driving at speed.
>> Edited by St3veM on Wednesday 29th June 14:04
Once learners have passed their test, make it compulsary that they have to take a 1-2 hour extension to that, by the driving school which makes them drive on the motorway before their licence is issued to ensure they are confident enough to be on there and learn about driving at speed.
>> Edited by St3veM on Wednesday 29th June 14:04
Article said:
driving on the hard shoulder to alleviate jams.
Question.
5 Car pile up on a typical Friday afternoon on M6. Road blocked as a result. Naturally, a big tailback ensues. How do the emergency services get to where the crash has happened?
Never quite understood how this proposal is going to work in this respect.....
One thing I've noticed over that last few years is that when there is a crash on a motorway/main road it takes ages to be cleared away. The road is often closed for hours on end !! Why ? I'm sure this did not used to be the case. Plod and the rescue people would come along and clear the crash/obstruction as quickly as possible but now they close the road for several hours ( often in both directions ) for no good reason. Is this actually the case, or am I imagining it ?
interesting web page about what goes on after a major road incedent:
www.cbrd.co.uk/indepth/majorincidents/
www.cbrd.co.uk/indepth/majorincidents/
[quote=adrianmugridge]One thing I've noticed over that last few years is that when there is a crash on a motorway/main road it takes ages to be cleared away. The road is often closed for hours on end !! Why ? I'm sure this did not used to be the case. Plod and the rescue people would come along and clear the crash/obstruction as quickly as possible but now they close the road for several hours ( often in both directions ) for no good reason. Is this actually the case, or am I imagining it ?
NO imagination----------True to life.The reason is called "THE Crime Scene" Roads closed for hours, while 100,000,s of drivers over a gridlocked 60 mile area, sit and wait, while evidence is collected for no known good reason--Except More Stats for DFT to feed to a commons Select Committee to publish their No-brainers ideas.Also a rare opportunity to view bib still being employed .
NO imagination----------True to life.The reason is called "THE Crime Scene" Roads closed for hours, while 100,000,s of drivers over a gridlocked 60 mile area, sit and wait, while evidence is collected for no known good reason--Except More Stats for DFT to feed to a commons Select Committee to publish their No-brainers ideas.Also a rare opportunity to view bib still being employed .
B 7 VP said:
[quote=adrianmugridge]One thing I've noticed over that last few years is that when there is a crash on a motorway/main road it takes ages to be cleared away. The road is often closed for hours on end !! Why ? I'm sure this did not used to be the case. Plod and the rescue people would come along and clear the crash/obstruction as quickly as possible but now they close the road for several hours ( often in both directions ) for no good reason. Is this actually the case, or am I imagining it ?
NO imagination----------True to life.The reason is called "THE Crime Scene" Roads closed for hours, while 100,000,s of drivers over a gridlocked 60 mile area, sit and wait, while evidence is collected for no known good reason--Except More Stats for DFT to feed to a commons Select Committee to publish their No-brainers ideas.Also a rare opportunity to view bib still being employed .
It is because there is now never an "accident" there must always be someone to blame. If the police do not collect all the evidence they could they are then held culpable and it costs us then. I do feel that unless there are really strange goings on that even the most careful examiner could not possibly take all day to form a reasonable opinion of who is to blame, but when someone is killed perhaps it is not too much of an inconveniance to wait. When it is due to incompetence and arse covering it is not.
I used to work on motorway recovery in the late 70s early 80s when the only thinh that mattered was getting the roads cleared to such an extent we were hit with a penalty charge if called by the police we did not get there within 25 mins.
i've seen lots of HA vehicles in the 'north' ( b'ham up, to me 
). all of them that weren't 'heavy vehicles' were range rovers. no shortage of funding then? 
all painted up to look like police vehicles ( is that the idea? )
i've not seen ANY HA vehicles of any sort in the south, except maybe one or two in the SE.
). all of them that weren't 'heavy vehicles' were range rovers. no shortage of funding then? all painted up to look like police vehicles ( is that the idea? )
i've not seen ANY HA vehicles of any sort in the south, except maybe one or two in the SE.
Personally, I still think that motorway tolls are a good idea, but not the charging by mile crap that was proposed the other week. If people were charged something nominal, say £5 to get on to the motorway in peak times (0700-0930, 1600-1830), this would discourage all those people who get on at Junction 4 and leave at Junction 5, whilst not over penalising all the people who have to use the motorway for much longer journeys. I'd imagine that for most, the reduced journey times would probably compensate for the additional expense. As a side effect, it would probably also encourage more use of the motorway outside of peak hour tolls and so hence maximise the potential.
Oh, and something just has to be done about the school run!!!!!! I never once got a lift to school when I was a kid, always walked and/or used public transport. If the towns and villages were not so congested, the temptation to use the motorway for shorter journeys might also be reduced.
Middle lane drivers and lorries overtaking for mile upon mile need to be addressed with some urgency... we heard much talk, but seen little action. The presence of both these menaces only serves to encourage erratic and sometimes dangerous driving by other road users who are being inconvenienced.
The variable speed limit on the M25 is in principle a good idea, but invariably it is out of step with actual traffic flows. An improved scheme with more appropriate speed limits during peak times is urgently required. Whatever scheme is chosen, it needs to educate drivers in the outside lane not to continually speed and brake, it's futile and invariably causes traffic jams... learn to cruise like the trucks on the inside lane, it's far more relaxing!
>> Edited by foster3jd on Thursday 30th June 08:18
Oh, and something just has to be done about the school run!!!!!! I never once got a lift to school when I was a kid, always walked and/or used public transport. If the towns and villages were not so congested, the temptation to use the motorway for shorter journeys might also be reduced.
Middle lane drivers and lorries overtaking for mile upon mile need to be addressed with some urgency... we heard much talk, but seen little action. The presence of both these menaces only serves to encourage erratic and sometimes dangerous driving by other road users who are being inconvenienced.
The variable speed limit on the M25 is in principle a good idea, but invariably it is out of step with actual traffic flows. An improved scheme with more appropriate speed limits during peak times is urgently required. Whatever scheme is chosen, it needs to educate drivers in the outside lane not to continually speed and brake, it's futile and invariably causes traffic jams... learn to cruise like the trucks on the inside lane, it's far more relaxing!
>> Edited by foster3jd on Thursday 30th June 08:18
More contentious reation here.
I do not honestly believe the majority of motorists are not really bright enough to work out that tailgating, driving aggressively etc etc, does not really makes the slightest bit of difference to their journey times. As you say, when the roads are conjested, ease back and drive considerately, no matter how frustrating the conditions may be. The more tailgating you do, the more frustrated you become, never mind the increased danger.
I do quite a lot of motorway miles each week (unfortunately), and the two things which really get my back up are lane hoggers, and HGV`s doing a simmilar thing, i.e. taking far too long to overtake a slightly slower HGV. I would immiediately ban HGV`s from overtaking on all dual carriageways and motorways at peak hours. In order for this to work, HGV`s would have to drive a safe distance from the HGV infront to allow traffic to enter/exit the carriageway. A transport manager mate of mine said that this problem only occurred when they fitted speed limiters...does anymore need saying?
As for car drivers hogging the wrong lane. This unfortunately requires poor old plod (with no rescourses) to come down hard on the ignorant individuals. I have to say it does give me (in the right conditions) great pleasure to undertake these people, and to see the look on their faces. They are usually bespectacled, or quite often young women, who are ever more aggressive, and not tall enough to see the rear view mirror.
Highways agency....yet another bunch of jobsworths wasting our tax payers money. When will this fxxxxxg government wake up and take responsibility!!!!
I do not honestly believe the majority of motorists are not really bright enough to work out that tailgating, driving aggressively etc etc, does not really makes the slightest bit of difference to their journey times. As you say, when the roads are conjested, ease back and drive considerately, no matter how frustrating the conditions may be. The more tailgating you do, the more frustrated you become, never mind the increased danger.
I do quite a lot of motorway miles each week (unfortunately), and the two things which really get my back up are lane hoggers, and HGV`s doing a simmilar thing, i.e. taking far too long to overtake a slightly slower HGV. I would immiediately ban HGV`s from overtaking on all dual carriageways and motorways at peak hours. In order for this to work, HGV`s would have to drive a safe distance from the HGV infront to allow traffic to enter/exit the carriageway. A transport manager mate of mine said that this problem only occurred when they fitted speed limiters...does anymore need saying?
As for car drivers hogging the wrong lane. This unfortunately requires poor old plod (with no rescourses) to come down hard on the ignorant individuals. I have to say it does give me (in the right conditions) great pleasure to undertake these people, and to see the look on their faces. They are usually bespectacled, or quite often young women, who are ever more aggressive, and not tall enough to see the rear view mirror.
Highways agency....yet another bunch of jobsworths wasting our tax payers money. When will this fxxxxxg government wake up and take responsibility!!!!
Bob the Planner said:
2 motorways are needed - extend the M27 to Exeter and then a north link to the M4 say Dorchester to Bath.
Extending the M27 eastbound to Dover would be an excellent idea.
Currently, the fastest way to get from the Brighton area to Dover area is via the M25, which can't be right.
Luckily, the Hastings bypass has been cancelled, and the west bound overtaking lane, just east of Lewes, has had it's speed reduced from 60 mph to 40 mph.
Easy communication routes are a requirement for successul economic development, so by restricting road development, the UK Gov are reducing economic opprtunities for the future.
Let's get Britain moving !
So why not give everyone the chance to undertake instead of trying to persuade the stupid brainless lane hoggers to move over. They won't move because they don't have the necessary brain power and probably don't realise why it's such an issue.
I've had MANY arguments with a mate of mine who sees nothing wrong with sitting in the outside lane and only moving over if something comes hammering up behind him. Even then, if he's doing 85 he probably won't move anyway, because he's going as fast as he wants to and so everyone else can wait. Absolutely drives me round the bend, to the point where I won't get in the car with him. It's total inattention to what's going on around you, combined with a deep seated belief that you are the most important person in the world and everyone else can sod off. Rant over.
I've had MANY arguments with a mate of mine who sees nothing wrong with sitting in the outside lane and only moving over if something comes hammering up behind him. Even then, if he's doing 85 he probably won't move anyway, because he's going as fast as he wants to and so everyone else can wait. Absolutely drives me round the bend, to the point where I won't get in the car with him. It's total inattention to what's going on around you, combined with a deep seated belief that you are the most important person in the world and everyone else can sod off. Rant over.
dcb said:
Easy communication routes are a requirement for successul economic development, so by restricting road development, the UK Gov are reducing economic opprtunities for the future.
Let's get Britain moving !
Alas dcb, we still seem to have the same mentality that did for the railways from the 1960's onwards. Only now we're doing it to the roads: Lack of investment,
With probably the same result, if we DON'T build 'em we're finished!
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