Red Crosses on Motorway Gantry Signs

[Sgt Bilko]

BonzoG said:

Sgt Bilko said:

Red X's don't just "appear", there is an element of warning.

What if you're between the gantry with the "<¬" and the gantry with the "X" when they light up? If you're right on top of it when it appears, you're kinda stuffed.

That's the thing, watch the vid. They don't just appear. The change over a short period from 50, 40, 30, <¬, X so if you are approaching a gantry, you will at least see 30, <¬ before you see the red X.

[vonhosen]

Arese said:

F i F said:

No worries if you pick on me Arese, I have broad shoulders.

I reckon it is an easy one to enforce tbh, basically ime you only get these red X where there is a gantry system, and these days those systems increasingly come with variable limits, which again increasingly come with cameras attached. You can see where I'm going with this...

Problem with that approach is the offence will then be a binary one, i.e. either you did or did not pass the red X.

Whereas in reality the most important part of the whole thing is the question of how did you get to be in that position? Electronic enforcement = fail, organic enforcement would (perhaps should) give a pragmatic and fair decision.

I think this is where it will be difficult to enforce. How many people will receive a NIP through the post for a 'red cross' offence and feel that they have decent mitigating circumstances, compared to just a general red-light offence?

If I join the motorway and proceed to move to lane 3 to complete an overtake, and then suddenly lanes 2 and 3 get 'red crossed' at the next gantry and I can't get into lane 1 because of (a) people being twunts and not letting me in, or (b) genuinely fast-flowing traffic in those lanes making it 'difficult' to manouvre into them, well I'd be extremely disappointed to receive a NIP.

I know it's rare for the above scenario to unfold, as like you say they are usually preceded by warning signs, but in my 'high-mileage' days it did occur occassionaly.

Mitigation isn't defence, it's just to limit punishment.

[anonymous-user]

BonzoG said:

Which is fair enough, as you'd expect traffic to already be slowing, the blockage to be visible, and all but the car directly underneath the gantry when the lights come on will have time to change lanes. But what about that car directly underneath the gantry? He probably can't even see the X when it's turned on.

What about the Dizzy b*tch the last month who ran straight through the lane closed signal and straight over the bike which was all on camera, she said she was waiting until she saw the cones definately a stupid f*cker who needs their licence removing promptly for everyone else's and their own safety, and yes it was daylight and all the signals were on

[BonzoG]

Sgt Bilko said:

BonzoG said:

Sgt Bilko said:

Red X's don't just "appear", there is an element of warning.

What if you're between the gantry with the "<¬" and the gantry with the "X" when they light up? If you're right on top of it when it appears, you're kinda stuffed.

That's the thing, watch the vid. They don't just appear. The change over a short period from 50, 40, 30, <¬, X so if you are approaching a gantry, you will at least see 30, <¬ before you see the red X.

I know there is a sequence of gantries telling you that a few gantries ahead, there will be a red X. I'm not arguing that point - anyone who steams through all of them should be summarily shot by the roadside. No excuse.

Are you saying that the actual gantry where the red X will be, initially starts at say 50, and quickly cycles down through the stages towards X much like a traffic light would?

If so fair enough, that seems to actually give people who happen to be caught between the start of the closure and the gantry prior a fighting chance of complying.

Edit: I don't have access to youtube right now, forgive my persistence with this!

Edited by BonzoG on Monday 18th October 19:29

[Landshark]

Arese said:

I've read on another thread that a red cross on a motorway gantry sign should be treated in the same way as a red light on a normal road, and that the punishment for ignoring one would be the same as going through a red light.

It might have been me as well?
The offence is contravening a red traffic signal, 3 points and £60.

Arese said:

Now, I can recall a couple of occasions where I have passed under a red cross. I'd always be indicating left to get into an 'open' lane, and always have my eye on the carriageway ahead for any obstructions. But, if the road is busy it's not always possible to get out of a 'closed' lane in good time.

most gantry you can see from a distance so you should be looking far enough down the road to see them(your example of it coming up as you approach the gantry aside that is). The lights flash from side to side on a red X and for advisory signs such as the arrows or speeds flash top to bottom.

Arese said:

Would I be expected to just stop in lane three of a motorway if I couldn't get into lane two, if lane three suddenly had a red cross on the overhead gantry?

Depends on the traffic, if its queing then slow down and move over prior to the gantry, if its fast flowing and comes up as you approach it then move over when safe to do so as you say keeping an eye on the road ahead.

The thing that annoys me is when the signs have been up for a while and people just want to get ahead of others and see this nice empty lane to use whilst everyone is queing.

Too many people do not know what it means. I asked drivers what a Red X means when speaking to them over the period of two weeks, not one of the many people i chatted to knew what they meant!!!!!!

I've had many near misses with vehicle ignoring them, as have many colleagues and other road workers you speak with have many accounts of close shaves, which is why it is a pet hate of mine and many others!!!!!

[Sgt Bilko]

BonzoG said:

Are you saying that the actual gantry where the red X will be, initially starts at say 50, and quickly cycles down through the stages towards X much like a traffic light would?

If so fair enough, that seems to actually give people who happen to be caught between the start of the closure and the gantry prior a fighting chance of complying.

Edit: I don't have access to youtube right now, forgive my persistence with this!

Edited by BonzoG on Monday 18th October 19:29

Correcto!

[streaky]

Landshark said:

The thing that annoys me is when the signs have been up for a while and people just want to get ahead of others and see this nice empty lane to use whilst everyone is queing.

Too many people do not know what it means. I asked drivers what a Red X means when speaking to them over the period of two weeks, not one of the many people i chatted to knew what they meant!!!!!!

I've had many near misses with vehicle ignoring them, as have many colleagues and other road workers you speak with have many accounts of close shaves, which is why it is a pet hate of mine and many others!!!!!

Deploying 'Stingers' after the second gantry might have a salutary effect (over time, obviously, not at the time) - Streaky