How smart are smart motorways?
Discussion
Did my motorway awareness course today and as an aside it was pretty good. Lively, good guys giving it, I was impressed!
There was a lot of focus on smart motorways and many attendees had no idea that they even existed! Anyway to the point...
The guys giving the course described how the smart motorways had many sensors and were used to plan and manage traffic far and wide. Also how they can now enforce closed lanes and may soon be able to enforce tailgating.
Not sure how much was real, coming soon, or wishful thinking.
Anyone know of any resources describing the capabilities of smart motorways? It all sounded very impressive. Not sure I want to be managed that much, but was very interested in the tech involved.
Cheers
Bert
There was a lot of focus on smart motorways and many attendees had no idea that they even existed! Anyway to the point...
The guys giving the course described how the smart motorways had many sensors and were used to plan and manage traffic far and wide. Also how they can now enforce closed lanes and may soon be able to enforce tailgating.
Not sure how much was real, coming soon, or wishful thinking.
Anyone know of any resources describing the capabilities of smart motorways? It all sounded very impressive. Not sure I want to be managed that much, but was very interested in the tech involved.
Cheers
Bert
Interesting that they may soon be able to police tailgating - But then, thinking about it, Once you have a road way with lots of sensors, and an ability to use and give information through variable speed limits and signage, the sky is the limit.
It can take traffic quantities, speeds, vehicle information, per lane statistics et al, use this to compute the most effective speeds, and communicate this to the driver - It is smart, and to a fair degree, software defined - And once you have hardware that can be exploited through the use of clever software, it becomes possible to complete all manner of functions - Just as happens in IT With software defined networks, and now infrastructure.
That all said, I still think the implementation could do with some polish - There has been zero driver education, and often I've had edge case scenarios where the intention can be misinterpreted, such as blank gantry signs after a VSL not indicating a return to NSL, and no further return to NSL Being posted despite a lightening of traffic and increase in speeds (As I understand
)
It can take traffic quantities, speeds, vehicle information, per lane statistics et al, use this to compute the most effective speeds, and communicate this to the driver - It is smart, and to a fair degree, software defined - And once you have hardware that can be exploited through the use of clever software, it becomes possible to complete all manner of functions - Just as happens in IT With software defined networks, and now infrastructure.
That all said, I still think the implementation could do with some polish - There has been zero driver education, and often I've had edge case scenarios where the intention can be misinterpreted, such as blank gantry signs after a VSL not indicating a return to NSL, and no further return to NSL Being posted despite a lightening of traffic and increase in speeds (As I understand
)They are a great idea, but IME could be better managed by a bunch of monkeys. 
I used to use the M3 to M25 to A3 every week, but even at around 2 pm on weekdays the monkeys have a 40 or 50 limit on the M25 between J12 and J11 so there is always a stop/start queue because the traffic has been backed up by their random speed limit reduction!
To the extent that I don't bother using that route now, I just use the A331 to the A31 then the A3 - 3 more miles but much quicker!
And while the "Smart" M3 has "emergency" refuges they are 1 and a half miles apart - would you want to drive for over a mile on a flat tyre or with a holed radiator? Because I certainly wouldn't want to stop in a live lane!
I used to use the M3 to M25 to A3 every week, but even at around 2 pm on weekdays the monkeys have a 40 or 50 limit on the M25 between J12 and J11 so there is always a stop/start queue because the traffic has been backed up by their random speed limit reduction!
To the extent that I don't bother using that route now, I just use the A331 to the A31 then the A3 - 3 more miles but much quicker!
And while the "Smart" M3 has "emergency" refuges they are 1 and a half miles apart - would you want to drive for over a mile on a flat tyre or with a holed radiator? Because I certainly wouldn't want to stop in a live lane!
Mr Tidy said:
And while the "Smart" M3 has "emergency" refuges they are 1 and a half miles apart - would you want to drive for over a mile on a flat tyre or with a holed radiator? Because I certainly wouldn't want to stop in a live lane!
To get to the next one and find it occupied by someone who's pulled over for a piss 
The thing that concerns me a little more is getting back out - Speaking as someone with a magnificent ~13 second 0-60, and with many other modern small engine cars touting similar figures, there isn't a great deal (any) acceleration slip to get back out of the refuge, and in many of the sections, having been converted to smart motorways due to congestion, not much in the way of large gaps.
Haltamer said:
The thing that concerns me a little more is getting back out - Speaking as someone with a magnificent ~13 second 0-60, and with many other modern small engine cars touting similar figures, there isn't a great deal (any) acceleration slip to get back out of the refuge, and in many of the sections, having been converted to smart motorways due to congestion, not much in the way of large gaps.
Basically, when in there you phone the control centre when you are ready to leave (fixed the problem etc) and they close the live lane and tell you when it's safe to leave.Bert
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