First useful motorway info
Discussion
Returning from park royal last night, as I passed heathrow approaching the M25 the overhead sign was displaying a message. The roadworks had shut the M3 sliproad, so down the M4 and M5 to Exeter it is then.
The sign warned me the M5 was shut between j26 and j27..................M3 it will have to be after all then. Spot on 
made a nice change to have some useful info. Bearing in mind, this closure was something like 150 miles away. Such a change not to be warned about fog when it's 35C outside and the air con is flat out
Phil
The sign warned me the M5 was shut between j26 and j27..................M3 it will have to be after all then. Spot on made a nice change to have some useful info. Bearing in mind, this closure was something like 150 miles away. Such a change not to be warned about fog when it's 35C outside and the air con is flat out Phil
Before I did my motorway attachment, I NEVER used to pay any attention to the matrix signs (as opposed to the variable message signs).
However, now I ALWAYS pay attention to them. The way they work here is this:
1. Control room get informed of incident on motorway, be it debris in lane 3, RTA, animals loose or whatever.
2. Control room set the matrix (to slow the traffic) down, at the same time deploying patrols to the scene.
3. As soon as the patrols arrive, if there is now problem, first job is get on the radio "Cancel Matrix".
4. If there is something requiring them, as soon as it has been dealt with, it's on the radio "Cancel Matrix".
Unfortunately, if the problem sorts itself before the first patrol gets there, it looks like matrix is set for no reason. Having had to remove debris from lane 4 of the busiest part of the M6 and dodge traffic at 3 figure speeds, I can tell you that the signs are usually on for a reason.
However, now I ALWAYS pay attention to them. The way they work here is this:
1. Control room get informed of incident on motorway, be it debris in lane 3, RTA, animals loose or whatever.
2. Control room set the matrix (to slow the traffic) down, at the same time deploying patrols to the scene.
3. As soon as the patrols arrive, if there is now problem, first job is get on the radio "Cancel Matrix".
4. If there is something requiring them, as soon as it has been dealt with, it's on the radio "Cancel Matrix".
Unfortunately, if the problem sorts itself before the first patrol gets there, it looks like matrix is set for no reason. Having had to remove debris from lane 4 of the busiest part of the M6 and dodge traffic at 3 figure speeds, I can tell you that the signs are usually on for a reason.
Dibble said:
Before I did my motorway attachment, I NEVER used to pay any attention to the matrix signs (as opposed to the variable message signs).
However, now I ALWAYS pay attention to them. The way they work here is this:
1. Control room get informed of incident on motorway, be it debris in lane 3, RTA, animals loose or whatever.
2. Control room set the matrix (to slow the traffic) down, at the same time deploying patrols to the scene.
3. As soon as the patrols arrive, if there is now problem, first job is get on the radio "Cancel Matrix".
4. If there is something requiring them, as soon as it has been dealt with, it's on the radio "Cancel Matrix".
Unfortunately, if the problem sorts itself before the first patrol gets there, it looks like matrix is set for no reason. Having had to remove debris from lane 4 of the busiest part of the M6 and dodge traffic at 3 figure speeds, I can tell you that the signs are usually on for a reason.
Fine. But it still doesn't explain 'Fog' warnings on sunny days - and we've all seen them.
I always take notice of the signs, and look as far ahead as I can see (i.e. pay even more attention to what's coming up in the distance), I think most drivers do the same. However, if the sign says 50mph and there is no visible reason why for miles you can see why people ignore it. Maybe we should have matrixes every 1/4 mile to help pinpoint the problem area more accurately.
targarama said:
However, if the sign says 50mph and there is no visible reason why for miles you can see why people ignore it.
Then suddenly a horse appears onto the motorway and you think....SHITE...didn't expect that...
My advice...slow down..you don't know why the signs have been activated...
Street
admittedly, the fog sign on a sunny day is bizarre
>> Edited by Streetcop on Friday 17th September 17:49
targarama said:
Fine. But it still doesn't explain 'Fog' warnings on sunny days - and we've all seen them.
I'll agree with you there.
targarama said:
However, if the sign says 50mph and there is no visible reason why for miles you can see why people ignore it.
Possibly the caller doesn't have a clue exactly where they are...
"Yes, I'm between junction 34 and 35..."
tagarama said:
Maybe we should have matrixes every 1/4 mile to help pinpoint the problem area more accurately.
Funded by fines from speed cameras, perhaps...
Dibble, a few months back, heading south on the M5, the matrices were showing 50. As usual, people were completely ignoring them. After a couple of miles I spotted blues near the central reservation. Obviously there is a wreck/debris whatever that needs removing. Some big four wheel drive thing came past me, then moved out to the third lane to overtake the next vehicle, completely oblivious of the blue strobes in the not too distant future. The traffic cop gave him a flash from one of those portable anti aircraft searchlights you carry......that woke him up, and just in time. It was less than a hundred yards before hitting the motorway patrol car that he managed to get back into lane two. I would not have blamed the cop for shooting his tyres out in self defence 
as it happened the cop settled for some hand gestures.
Wished I could have video'd that, whoever it was does not deserve a license.
Phil
Now I think about it, it was on silverbackmike's patch
as it happened the cop settled for some hand gestures. Wished I could have video'd that, whoever it was does not deserve a license.
Phil
Now I think about it, it was on silverbackmike's patch
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