Thursday 13th December 2001

Motorways are Quite Busy

M25 suffers delays shocker

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[robert farago]

I don't understand this. Everytime there's a serious accident, the police feel obliged to close the motorway. I'll repeat that: close the motorway. Huh?

I'm realise someone somewhere (Highways Agency? Insurance companies?)desperately needs critical accident data to prevent, um, critical accidents that close the motorway. But that need should be balanced against the need to keep the entire country moving.

Why not just scrape the mess to one side, cover it with a screen if you must, and let people get on with it? Many a time I've driven by on the other side of a motorway closure and seen cops ambling around debris, taking photos and yes, schmoozing.

If not that (and why the Hell not?), then at the very least, there should be performance figures for clearing fatal accidents.

Motorways agencies should also have pre-established diversions ready to go. Time and time again, hapless motorists are thrown off the only direct route to their destination, and left to wander around the countryside (well "crawl") trying to find their way through traffic choked towns.

Sometimes, wouldn't it be better to just let them wait until the motorway clears? Oh, I forgot, it takes hours to clear up.

Frankly, UK accident management policy is not good enough. The figures tell the tale.

making friends wherever I go

[JonVickers]

I quite agree, as you can expect 3 lanes plus a hard shoulder, how long does a motorway need to be closed. I imagine that traffic policemen have some form of 'forensic'/detective training for dealing with accidents ("Err, sarge it looks like a horse ran in front of the car", for example). So, take photos, make measurements, check the area, get the brush out of the Range Rover and clear the carriageway. Admittedly it will be more difficult if there are injuries, but radio traffic news seems to be littered with "the Mx is closed at junction y due to an accident...". Are the accidents really THAT serious to block four lanes? Or is it volume of traffic being squeezed into fewer lanes that causes the congestion and they don't want more traffic to join the motorway?

[mel]

The problem is that if an accident is serious i.e. if people are injured and there is any risk that they may die so by that it means head injuries or any thnig that may be life threatening there is a risk that evidence may need to be presented to a coroners court. Obviously the priority is to save the lives and for that reason plod can't say to ambulance and fire crews excuse me can I get in with my tape. they have to be given as much room and assistance as possible. However after the casualties have gone poor old plod (and you won't hear me say that very often) is left picking up the pieces and trying to work out what the Fcuk has gone on. This means trying to work out what has been trashed in the accident and what by the rescue crews etc and is no easy task. It is not just a case of a few measurement and a few phots etc. I think if you'd ever been to a coroners hearing after a fatal RTA you would realise the biggest question from the next of kin is why? how? whose fault? etc people need answers in times of grief and the old bill can never be sure that a "not too serious crash" might not turn into a fatal a bit later on. Show some compassion sit in the Q and think of the poor sod in meat wagon, and their mum and dad, wife or girlfriend etc etc

[JonVickers]

I stand corrected (and ashamed)

[MattC]

If I sit in a queue for 4 hours, can I claim on the culprit's insurance for loss of earnings, queue-induced stress, extra packets of mints consumed, small holes in steering wheel due to finger-drumming etc...
?

[PetrolTed]

To be fair, the M25 now has dedicated 'Incident Crews' which are on permanent standby around the motorway to attend scenes and clearn up. It's no longer left to a plod with a broom (well not always).

[tvradict]

Is it me (correct me if i'm wrong) or are none of the said roads in Scotland! 'fraid it;s the place to be! uncongested roads, late pub closings!

[richb]

quote:I think if you'd ever been to a coroners hearing after a fatal RTA you would realise the biggest question from the next of kin is why? how? whose fault? etc

That's an easy one - just blame the nearest HGV - they are normally the cause of 99.9% of motorway pile-ups R...

[jaydee]

Drivel. HGVs are involved in a tiny number of incidents given the mileage they cover. The usual factor in pile-ups is excessive speed for the road conditions (and no I don't hold that "speed kills" just that doing 85 in fog is unbelievably stoopid...)