England's roadworks get thumbs up
They're the best in Europe apparently
We've got the best roadworks
According to the EuroTest survey, which covered ten European countries, roadworks in England have the best signposting, as well as wide, well-marked traffic lanes.
"The Highways Agency always strives to minimise the disruption and safety risks associated with roadworks whilst keeping the traffic moving," said roads minister Dr Stephen Ladyman.
"I am delighted that this survey has recognised the Agency's road network management expertise as innovative and truly world class."
The survey results saw England move from third position to first place for 2006, followed by Germany and the Netherlands.
Daytime roadworks on the M42 near Birmingham were voted as the best of the 53 European sites surveyed, while some of the inspections on the M42 near Birmingham during the night-time, the M1 near Hemel Hempstead, the M25 near Cheshunt, the M5 near Clevedon and the M5 near Taunton saw ratings of 'very good'.
Both daytime and night-time works on the M1 near Watford received a rating of 'very good', with driver information and roadworker safety being particularly noteworthy for the inspectors.
Now, isn't that nice to know, when you're sitting on the M5, up to your ears in other people's Vectras?
What it doesn't seem to mention is how well they're planned (let's dig up the motorway access road on the busiest traffic month of the year!), the rate of completion (another two inches of road, good work boys!) or indeed the finished quality of the road (covered in mysterious lumps and stone chippings, jobs a good 'un).
That said, someone in our local council must have been listening, the last few roadworks have been proper dig it up and start over jobs, rather than trying to cover up the mess by spraying stones at it.
We have roads currently in a disgraceful and highly dangerous condition, roadworks time is measured in years to complete. The highways agency look for all possible means of maximising disruption to free traffic flow. The Police delight in closing roads altogether at every opportunity for accidents where the vehicle used to be moved on to the verge and traffic kept moving at all costs.
........And we pay the highest motoring taxes of any country on earth.
The Government should be deeply ashamed of all transport policy in this country.
Contrast with the superbly maintained roads in France.
We have roads currently in a disgraceful and highly dangerous condition, roadworks time is measured in years to complete. The highways agency look for all possible means of maximising disruption to free traffic flow. The Police delight in closing roads altogether at every opportunity for accidents where the vehicle used to be moved on to the verge and traffic kept moving at all costs.
........And we pay the highest motoring taxes of any country on earth.
The Government should be deeply ashamed of all transport policy in this country.
Contrast with the superbly maintained roads in France.
Well said sir !
What is so important about bragging about how good our roadworks are laid out and signposted if they are the most prevalent, slowest and disruptive in Europe.
Why doesnt someone look at the overall disruption and time taken to complete work, in our motorway network and compare this to Continental Europe. This would provide a picture they wouldn't want to discuss I'm sure.
I frankly cannot believe there is anyone who would even publish such b***ks in the first place !
"Use the left lane you t*ss*r"
Or the government could save some money and just not bother with the inside lane.
I enjoy nothing more that having to move all of the way over to pass some c**t hogging the middle lane, usually with their front fog lights on (it is not cool, Daewoos come with them and they blind people in sports cars) and chatting on their mobile whilst drinking a MacDonalds milkshake and smoking!
Sorry for the rant but who cares if we have nice signs!? What we should be scored on is our driving standards, which are terrible!
I reckon that our local roads are being repaired by Gippos* (tarmac your drive for you guv?) because they've threatened to put a curse on someone from the local highways department...
Dave
*sorry, displaced "travellers**" that have every right to everything they want at my expense, but without the luxury of taxation....
** travellers is it? well f*ck off and travel somewhere else !
"Well there we were, discussing this hole
A hole in the ground so big and sort of round
Well it's not there now, the ground's all flat
And beneath it is the bloke in the bowler hat. "
Sums it all up
Gassing Station | Motoring News | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff