Motorway overhead signs - who runs em?
Discussion
These are one of my biggest bugs at the mo and I think they don't exactly help with congestion.
Two examples recently:
Yesterady - A1M/A64 closed. There were limited signs wrking on the approach to this from the M62 that just said delays. There was 1 small sign saying closed then nothing. At the last possible exit to avoid it (A63) there were 2 very large overhead signs that were blank. Nothing at all. I could see the others about a mile further down flashing so I went off anyway. Now surely it'd be better to divert people off the motorway BEFORE the closed section rather than letting them add to the queue?
Saturday: M1 - tyre on the inside lane. Nothing. About a mile further down the 50 limit lights were going mad with a "debris in road" sign up. Surely this would have been better BEFORE the actual debris?
Anyway, who actually runs these lights and how come they're NEVER acurate, working when they should but seem quite happy to tell you not to drink or that a junction is going to take you 12 minutes??
Does my nut in.
Two examples recently:
Yesterady - A1M/A64 closed. There were limited signs wrking on the approach to this from the M62 that just said delays. There was 1 small sign saying closed then nothing. At the last possible exit to avoid it (A63) there were 2 very large overhead signs that were blank. Nothing at all. I could see the others about a mile further down flashing so I went off anyway. Now surely it'd be better to divert people off the motorway BEFORE the closed section rather than letting them add to the queue?
Saturday: M1 - tyre on the inside lane. Nothing. About a mile further down the 50 limit lights were going mad with a "debris in road" sign up. Surely this would have been better BEFORE the actual debris?
Anyway, who actually runs these lights and how come they're NEVER acurate, working when they should but seem quite happy to tell you not to drink or that a junction is going to take you 12 minutes??
Does my nut in.
I particularly like the ones on the motorway that advise you to slow down to some incredibly slow speed (say 30mph) as there has been an 'Incident'.
So, expecting the worst everybody slows down and proceeds at a glacial rate for a couple of miles. Next thing you see is another set of overhead signs which say 'End' and have a national speed limit sign on them. Whatever 'Incident' there was has long since disappeared, but nobody thought to turn the signs off.
Was traveling on the motorway the other day at around 3:00am and there were overhead signs advising me to slow to 20mph. 20mph! In clear conditions, in the middle of the night on an empty motorway. That's a downright dangerous speed to be doing under those circumstances. Naturally when the 'End' signs appeared there had been absolutely no reason for the reduced limit. I can see how these signs are useful if there's roadworks or an active incident...but when they're over, can somebody please remember to cancel the bloody message!
So, expecting the worst everybody slows down and proceeds at a glacial rate for a couple of miles. Next thing you see is another set of overhead signs which say 'End' and have a national speed limit sign on them. Whatever 'Incident' there was has long since disappeared, but nobody thought to turn the signs off.
Was traveling on the motorway the other day at around 3:00am and there were overhead signs advising me to slow to 20mph. 20mph! In clear conditions, in the middle of the night on an empty motorway. That's a downright dangerous speed to be doing under those circumstances. Naturally when the 'End' signs appeared there had been absolutely no reason for the reduced limit. I can see how these signs are useful if there's roadworks or an active incident...but when they're over, can somebody please remember to cancel the bloody message!
Swoxy said:
I think it's the Highways Agency.
Yup, they are run from the Highways Agency Regional Control Rooms. IIRC the "Main" control rrom is somewhere Doncaster-Sheffield way.
ETA - Read all about it here: http://www.highways.gov.uk/knowledge/15508.aspx
Also they aren't all bad, see this campaign: http://www.highways.gov.uk/knowledge/18866.aspx
You can even email you're comments in, so if you arent happy, let them know...ha_info@highways.gsi.gov.uk.
Edited by TomE on Thursday 9th April 14:42
Depends on what sign or signal it is though.
Gantry signals, MS1 and MS4 signals are controlled from a regional control centre and also automatically by "MIDAS Loops" in certain areas. http://www.highways.gov.uk/knowledge/15452.aspx
The Variable Message Signs are controlled by the NTCC - National Traffic Control Centre near to Birmingham. http://www.highways.gov.uk/knowledge/334.aspx
If you have a concern about the messages, no matter what, please do contact the Highways Agency on the HAIL Number (Highways Agency Information Line) 08457 50 40 30 to speak to an operator, or as previous here, email the HA directly. http://www.highways.gov.uk/aboutus/2304.aspx
Hope this helps...
Gantry signals, MS1 and MS4 signals are controlled from a regional control centre and also automatically by "MIDAS Loops" in certain areas. http://www.highways.gov.uk/knowledge/15452.aspx
The Variable Message Signs are controlled by the NTCC - National Traffic Control Centre near to Birmingham. http://www.highways.gov.uk/knowledge/334.aspx
If you have a concern about the messages, no matter what, please do contact the Highways Agency on the HAIL Number (Highways Agency Information Line) 08457 50 40 30 to speak to an operator, or as previous here, email the HA directly. http://www.highways.gov.uk/aboutus/2304.aspx
Hope this helps...
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