M3 Nightmare Continues!

[Mr Tidy]

Dr Interceptor said:

Haha!!

Fortunately though it's not overseas, it's in Godstone.

I'm not sure if that reassures me at all - I mean we now know tram drivers in Croydon don't seem to be able to stay awake, and Godstone isn't too far away!

[Dr Interceptor]

Mr Tidy said:

Dr Interceptor said:

Haha!!

Fortunately though it's not overseas, it's in Godstone.

I'm not sure if that reassures me at all - I mean we now know tram drivers in Croydon don't seem to be able to stay awake, and Godstone isn't too far away!

Godstone is the highways control centre that monitors and actions all of the signage across the area. They cover the bottom section of the M25 from Heathrow to the M26 junction, and the top of the M23. They then also cover the M20, M3, M27, M271 and M275, as well as many major A roads in and around those.

It's quite an interesting place to go round.

[pc.iow]

Dr Interceptor said:

Mr Tidy said:

Dr Interceptor said:

Haha!!

Fortunately though it's not overseas, it's in Godstone.

I'm not sure if that reassures me at all - I mean we now know tram drivers in Croydon don't seem to be able to stay awake, and Godstone isn't too far away!

Godstone is the highways control centre that monitors and actions all of the signage across the area. They cover the bottom section of the M25 from Heathrow to the M26 junction, and the top of the M23. They then also cover the M20, M3, M27, M271 and M275, as well as many major A roads in and around those.

It's quite an interesting place to go round.

I went in there over twenty years ago when digging and fitting water meters was my job.
Apart from the wall of screens showing the roads, i remember an area that had a load of photographs of accidents, a lot of which i'd be surprised if people lived through.
I said at the time that these photos are what should be shown to the general public as to what actually happens when a serious accident occurs.
Made me drive away a lot more carefully then when i pulled up that's for sure.

[Dr Interceptor]

...and it's happened. Fortunately no fatalities.

Silver Yaris broken down in Lane 1, was punted up the arse by a Passat so hard it flipped the Yaris onto its roof.

Fortunately the Yaris driver was walking to an emergency phone at the time.

http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/m3-cam...

[AlexRS2782]

Oof As you say, luckily no-one was in the Yaris.

[FurtiveFreddy]

It really was only a matter of time. That was in daylight as well. With the nights drawing in, we're going to see more like this unfortunately.

[yellowjack]

So what was the point of turning the hard shoulder into a running lane then?

As far as i can see it only really serves to cause additional delays, more serious incidents, and more frequent lane closures and lowered speed limits. It's plain daft, as I said it would be from the very start.

Insanity.

The M1, I'm fairly sure, first opened without a hard shoulder. Then experience presumably persuaded road designers that a hard shoulder was an essential element of a motorway. As far as I can tell, with MORE traffic, and increased average speeds achievable by more vehicles compared to the 1950s and 1960s, there is more need for a hard shoulder than ever before.

How many will have to be injured or killed before this error is identified, admitted, and corrected?

I looked out of my upstairs window this afternoon and saw the resultant tailbacks from today's crash (back near 4a). Not funny at all for people in the queue, but at least there were only minor injuries and no-one needed a lift to hospital under blue lights. I shall probably continue to stay off this section of the M3 as much as I can. Especially after coming close to rear-ending a broken down car myself the other night due to conflicting gantry signs regarding "an incident".

[Mr Tidy]

FurtiveFreddy said:

It really was only a matter of time. That was in daylight as well. With the nights drawing in, we're going to see more like this unfortunately.

Yes, it really was!

I came off the M25 clockwise onto the M3 at J2 tonight at around 20.30 and there was a Focus with hazard lights on but where it had stopped there was still a hard shoulder, even though there are now 2 lanes onto the slip-road (at last)!

The main difference at this time of day (i.e out of peak hours) seems to be that people travel along at 70ish with 2 empty lanes to their left whereas before there was only 1 empty lane!

It would be so much better if lane discipline was enforced!

[Trevatanus]

Location : The M3 westbound entry slip at junction J2 from M25 anti-clockwise. Lane Closures : Lanes 1 and 2 will be closed. Reason : Emergency roadworks are planned. Status : Pending. Schedule : Expect disruption everyday between 22:00 and 05:30 from 27 November 2017 to 7 December 2017. Lanes Closed : All lanes will be closed.

[DJT]

Trevatanus said:

Location : The M3 westbound entry slip at junction J2 from M25 anti-clockwise. Lane Closures : Lanes 1 and 2 will be closed. Reason : Emergency roadworks are planned. Status : Pending. Schedule : Expect disruption everyday between 22:00 and 05:30 from 27 November 2017 to 7 December 2017. Lanes Closed : All lanes will be closed.

Will believe the roadworks are truly finished when the works compound at J4a North is removed. Is the big one still present near Windlesham?

[DJT]

Surprisingly, last night the overhead signs made no warning of the two dimwits (polite term) who had temporarily converted lane 4 into an impromptu hard shoulder to Inspect a fender bender and exchange insurance details! The nearby lanes were from time to time moving at some speed. Licences should be handed in. Luckily for them the Passat driver has not been on the road since Friday.

[Dr Interceptor]

DJT said:

Surprisingly, last night the overhead signs made no warning of the two dimwits (polite term) who had temporarily converted lane 4 into an impromptu hard shoulder to Inspect a fender bender and exchange insurance details! The nearby lanes were from time to time moving at some speed. Licences should be handed in. Luckily for them the Passat driver has not been on the road since Friday.

With no hard shoulder, that's as good as any lane to stop in. Heaven forbid they unnecessarily block and fill an emergency refuge point.

Raises a serious question, get tapped up the arse on the M3, what do you do?

1. Stop there and then in-lane?
2. Continue to the next refuge point not knowing what state your car is in, or if there's any debris in the road, and hope the other party pulls in and stops behind you?
3. Do the same as 2. But continue to the next junction and stop on the slip road.

[FurtiveFreddy]

Dr Interceptor said:

With no hard shoulder, that's as good as any lane to stop in. Heaven forbid they unnecessarily block and fill an emergency refuge point.

Raises a serious question, get tapped up the arse on the M3, what do you do?

1. Stop there and then in-lane?
2. Continue to the next refuge point not knowing what state your car is in, or if there's any debris in the road, and hope the other party pulls in and stops behind you?
3. Do the same as 2. But continue to the next junction and stop on the slip road.

I'd suggest anything other than 1 at least gives everyone some chance of survival.

Although if you were the tappee and tried to continue to a safe haven, the tapper would probably just give you a cheery wave and fk off into the night...

[Dr Interceptor]

FurtiveFreddy said:

I'd suggest anything other than 1 at least gives everyone some chance of survival.

Although if you were the tappee and tried to continue to a safe haven, the tapper would probably just give you a cheery wave and fk off into the night...

Cue a massive spike in reported cases of 'failing to stop' - but then can it be enforced if the tappee didn't stop straight away either....

[DJT]

"Have you been tapped from behind? Did the tapper fail to stop? Then call 0800......."

Actually, my rear bumper does need a respray. Hmmmm.

[FurtiveFreddy]

Incidentally, I was driving around the southern section of the M25 and the M3 to/from J4 today and unless it's my imagination, the driving standards seem to have suddenly declined compared to the last few weeks. I can only assume Christmas shopping/office parties/visits to see the grandchildren have started in earnest.

This doesn't bode well as it'll only get worse leading up to Christmas and I predict we'll have a lot more scary incidents on the M3 between now and January.

So, expect the unexpected, drive defensively and stay safe out there everyone!

[krisdelta]

I can't be sure if it's the local news, but the M3 seems to have multiple closures a week now due to accidents. Is there any empirical data available?

[Trevatanus]

Bad one this morning resulting in a closure at 4a for several hours according to local internet. Involving a car and minibus.
http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/m3-cra...

Edited by Trevatanus on Saturday 2nd December 14:30

[DJT]

Yes, this morning around 8am couldn't get on North at 4a, had to join at 4. Empty motorway and lots of blue lights on the horizon.

[DJT]

FurtiveFreddy said:

Incidentally, I was driving around the southern section of the M25 and the M3 to/from J4 today and unless it's my imagination, the driving standards seem to have suddenly declined compared to the last few weeks. I can only assume Christmas shopping/office parties/visits to see the grandchildren have started in earnest.

This doesn't bode well as it'll only get worse leading up to Christmas and I predict we'll have a lot more scary incidents on the M3 between now and January.

So, expect the unexpected, drive defensively and stay safe out there everyone!

I'm sure there's also many more breakdowns in the holidays as all the cars used only for local runs are put to the test on long motorway journeys. Of course, breakdowns and smart motrways are not ideally compatible.