Are Smart Motorways Dangerous?
Discussion
IJWS15 said:
If that. Is anything like the clips they are showing today then each of the drivers shown should be done for the current version of careless . . .
That’s probably what needs to happen but harsher. Driving in a lane with a red x above it on a smart motorway should be an instant 1 week ban. Make a big deal out of it in the news and on social media and soon enough people might start taking it seriously.djc206 said:
IJWS15 said:
If that. Is anything like the clips they are showing today then each of the drivers shown should be done for the current version of careless . . .
That’s probably what needs to happen but harsher. Driving in a lane with a red x above it on a smart motorway should be an instant 1 week ban. Make a big deal out of it in the news and on social media and soon enough people might start taking it seriously.Simply policing the lane would be a start.
Mojooo said:
news article
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51236375
On Panorama tomorrow (Monday 27 Jan)
Pretty damning when the Minister who gave the go ahead says he was misled about how they would be rolled out.
Sorry to hijack the thread, but how the actual fhttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51236375
On Panorama tomorrow (Monday 27 Jan)
Pretty damning when the Minister who gave the go ahead says he was misled about how they would be rolled out.
k is that lying, slimy Grant Shapps still a government minister for fks sake?!!!I actually despair that he's in charge of such a critical department.
GTI16V said:
Sorry to hijack the thread, but how the actual fk is that lying, slimy Grant Shapps still a government minister for fks sake?!!!
I actually despair that he's in charge of such a critical department.
Shouldnt you be concentrating on twitter trolling to get Wrong-Daily elected?k is that lying, slimy Grant Shapps still a government minister for fks sake?!!!I actually despair that he's in charge of such a critical department.
djc206 said:
That’s probably what needs to happen but harsher. Driving in a lane with a red x above it on a smart motorway should be an instant 1 week ban. Make a big deal out of it in the news and on social media and soon enough people might start taking it seriously.
Agree, but I think part of the problem if I read the article correctly, is that it takes on average 17 minutes before the lane is marked with the red X after someone has broken down, hence this is probably one of the danger periods. Even with the new planned radar system, the lack of hard shoulder just makes me nervous if I ever happen to break down on a live lane.
djc206 said:
That’s probably what needs to happen but harsher. Driving in a lane with a red x above it on a smart motorway should be an instant 1 week ban. Make a big deal out of it in the news and on social media and soon enough people might start taking it seriously.
It's a shame that the roll out of smart motorways wasn't given such a fan fare.Many, many people only drive on motorways once a year when they go on holiday etc, they aren't used to them and such a significant change should have had a huge amount more publicity before it was rolled out.
Yes, I know the old caveat that ignorance is no excuse, but in the real world people don't keep up with development or rule changes.
Mojooo said:
news article
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51236375
On Panorama tomorrow (Monday 27 Jan)
Pretty damning when the Minister who gave the go ahead says he was misled about how they would be rolled out.
I'm pretty sure they've changed that article, when I read it yesterday it had the total distance of all motorway in the UK and total deaths, 2000 miles and 90.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51236375
On Panorama tomorrow (Monday 27 Jan)
Pretty damning when the Minister who gave the go ahead says he was misled about how they would be rolled out.
Smart and total deaths/mile came out about the same, given that smart motorways will be busier the numbers didn't really support their argument.
Why are not all Smart motorways of the same design? There are multiple jobs that pretty much presume you are driving all over the country, surely it is idiocy to presume that EVERY single driver is going to know the subtle differences.
I have been on several where the escape bays are very few and far between it there at all, and as others have said, the fact it can take 10 minutes or more for the lane lights to react is pure craziness and goes against the naming, SMART!
I do think they are a death trap and more pressure needs to be applied to either eliminate them completely or go back to using the inside lane as hard shoulder.
I have been on several where the escape bays are very few and far between it there at all, and as others have said, the fact it can take 10 minutes or more for the lane lights to react is pure craziness and goes against the naming, SMART!
I do think they are a death trap and more pressure needs to be applied to either eliminate them completely or go back to using the inside lane as hard shoulder.
eccles said:
djc206 said:
That’s probably what needs to happen but harsher. Driving in a lane with a red x above it on a smart motorway should be an instant 1 week ban. Make a big deal out of it in the news and on social media and soon enough people might start taking it seriously.
It's a shame that the roll out of smart motorways wasn't given such a fan fare.Many, many people only drive on motorways once a year when they go on holiday etc, they aren't used to them and such a significant change should have had a huge amount more publicity before it was rolled out.
Yes, I know the old caveat that ignorance is no excuse, but in the real world people don't keep up with development or rule changes.
As posted previously, I was shocked at how crap the system was at late, clear, Sunday night in Summer. It was almost as though the operator (if human) was having a laugh with the speed limit adjustments.
The thought of no hard shoulder and no quick access to a warning triangle, has me rethinking what equipment I should have to hand, accessible from the cabin, in the event of a breakdown.
Thought of this thread driving on the M4 yesterday when I noticed "emergency refuge in xxx yards" signs along the side of the smart motorway section around Bristol. I assume they're pretty new as they still had the red/orange fencing around them and I don't recall seeing them before Christmas.
Chris
Chris
On the whoel, a recurrent impression from driving on the continent is it feels easier and people's lane discipline is generally better.
One obvious difference, aside from most Western European economies having invested far more in the building of new motorways generally, is the fact most only have 3 lanes.
I do not think most users are well suited, spatially, to multiple lanes, three is enough of a challenge. Often, on a four lane motorway, the outer two lanes are little different in use to a three.
Aside from at major junctions, three really is enough lanes IMHO for most people to cope with.
One obvious difference, aside from most Western European economies having invested far more in the building of new motorways generally, is the fact most only have 3 lanes.
I do not think most users are well suited, spatially, to multiple lanes, three is enough of a challenge. Often, on a four lane motorway, the outer two lanes are little different in use to a three.
Aside from at major junctions, three really is enough lanes IMHO for most people to cope with.
Digga said:
I do not think most users are well suited, spatially, to multiple lanes, three is enough of a challenge. Often, on a four lane motorway, the outer two lanes are little different in use to a three.
People will tend to hog the outermost lane minus one. It's a terrible cultural trait of driving standard complacency. Apols for going OT.bolidemichael said:
Digga said:
I do not think most users are well suited, spatially, to multiple lanes, three is enough of a challenge. Often, on a four lane motorway, the outer two lanes are little different in use to a three.
People will tend to hog the outermost lane minus one. It's a terrible cultural trait of driving standard complacency. Apols for going OT.What 'Smart Motorways' has done, is use the sticking plaster of extra (less well utilised) lanes to the existing roads, instead of building redundancy and capacity through alternate routes, as the Germans have.
Now, when there is an accident and the whole north or southbound or whatever is shut, it's four lanes out of action. Had there been another road, even if it was only a dual carriageway, there'd still be lanes moving.
Digga said:
bolidemichael said:
Digga said:
I do not think most users are well suited, spatially, to multiple lanes, three is enough of a challenge. Often, on a four lane motorway, the outer two lanes are little different in use to a three.
People will tend to hog the outermost lane minus one. It's a terrible cultural trait of driving standard complacency. Apols for going OT.What 'Smart Motorways' has done, is use the sticking plaster of extra (less well utilised) lanes to the existing roads, instead of building redundancy and capacity through alternate routes, as the Germans have.
Now, when there is an accident and the whole north or southbound or whatever is shut, it's four lanes out of action. Had there been another road, even if it was only a dual carriageway, there'd still be lanes moving.
bolidemichael said:
Digga said:
bolidemichael said:
Digga said:
I do not think most users are well suited, spatially, to multiple lanes, three is enough of a challenge. Often, on a four lane motorway, the outer two lanes are little different in use to a three.
People will tend to hog the outermost lane minus one. It's a terrible cultural trait of driving standard complacency. Apols for going OT.What 'Smart Motorways' has done, is use the sticking plaster of extra (less well utilised) lanes to the existing roads, instead of building redundancy and capacity through alternate routes, as the Germans have.
Now, when there is an accident and the whole north or southbound or whatever is shut, it's four lanes out of action. Had there been another road, even if it was only a dual carriageway, there'd still be lanes moving.
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