Daft HATO positioning yesterday morning

[havoc]

Well, chaos was caused at M6 J2 yesterday morning when, having pulled over a foreign HGV ON the roundabout, rather than in the handy layby just 100yds down the A4600, the HATO decide to park their very tall and non-transparent Discovery right by the (busy) entrance onto the roundabout from the A4600, half-on the road / half on the grass verge.

Of course, this combination of large opaque Disco and even larger (and if possible more opaque) HGV blocking the entire view of the roundabout from the A4600 approach meant that no-one trying to join the roundabout from Coventry could see anything without sticking the nose of their car into the pathway of any vehicles wanting to join the M6 Northbound...


lads...how many near misses did you cause on that wet morning, and were there any accidents due to your lack of common sense!!!

[Munter]

I didn't think HATO could pull people over and make them stop. Oh they can direct traffic, which might include stopping everybody, but I didn't think they could single out a vehicle to stop.

So were they just parked up behind a broken down lorry?

[havoc]

In front of the truck - which was the problem...truck had stopped just past the A4600 exit, leaving enough (if not generous) visibility for those wanting to join the roundabout...the HATO had pulled in in-front and <2yds from the A4600 entrance...worst possible positioning!

Oh...and two hi-viz'd guys seemed to be going over the truck in a rather detailed manner, and there were no hazards on. Made me think it was something like a VOSA stop with the HATOs playing taxi (personally I'd rather some Albanian minicab driver...more road-sense usually...).

[anonymous-user]

havoc said:

In front of the truck - which was the problem...truck had stopped just past the A4600 exit, leaving enough (if not generous) visibility for those wanting to join the roundabout...the HATO had pulled in in-front and <2yds from the A4600 entrance...worst possible positioning!

Oh...and two hi-viz'd guys seemed to be going over the truck in a rather detailed manner, and there were no hazards on. Made me think it was something like a VOSA stop with the HATOs playing taxi (personally I'd rather some Albanian minicab driver...more road-sense usually...).

Looks like he was broke down with an electrical problem then eh ? No hazards !

Try thinking of as many scenario's as possible b4 gobbing off on a situation you probably knew nothing about.

Lot's of things may not be what they seem, no room to pull behind, came round roundabout in a different lane and thought he's not moving, see if we can get it shifted. And if it's a 100m from a layby i think the hato's or the driver would have used that option if it was available to them (but there are some numb ones about, like in all walks of life.

Hato's don't have pulling power, but can stop vehicles in the interests of safety, could save you driving over a pallet of bricks or metal pipe one day.

[Vaux]

speedyguy said:

Hato's don't have pulling power, but can stop vehicles in the interests of safety, could save you driving over a pallet of bricks or metal pipe one day.

1 - are we convinced it was a HATO and not VOSA?
2 - Per Highway Code rule 108, HATOs are legally allowed to stop any vehicle on safety grounds. It could be an LGV with an insecure load. Could it be a driver on a mobile phone? Safety after all......?

[TPS]

speedyguy said:

havoc said:

In front of the truck - which was the problem...truck had stopped just past the A4600 exit, leaving enough (if not generous) visibility for those wanting to join the roundabout...the HATO had pulled in in-front and <2yds from the A4600 entrance...worst possible positioning!

Oh...and two hi-viz'd guys seemed to be going over the truck in a rather detailed manner, and there were no hazards on. Made me think it was something like a VOSA stop with the HATOs playing taxi (personally I'd rather some Albanian minicab driver...more road-sense usually...).

Looks like he was broke down with an electrical problem then eh ? No hazards !

Try thinking of as many scenario's as possible b4 gobbing off on a situation you probably knew nothing about.

[Howitzer]

One swung a cone out near the M11, A14 changeover this morning, picked up cone at the side of the road, swung it as he turned around and I launched it down the road with my indicator.

Cheers tt, hope I broke his hand!

Dave!

[Hooli]

TPS said:

speedyguy said:

havoc said:

In front of the truck - which was the problem...truck had stopped just past the A4600 exit, leaving enough (if not generous) visibility for those wanting to join the roundabout...the HATO had pulled in in-front and <2yds from the A4600 entrance...worst possible positioning!

Oh...and two hi-viz'd guys seemed to be going over the truck in a rather detailed manner, and there were no hazards on. Made me think it was something like a VOSA stop with the HATOs playing taxi (personally I'd rather some Albanian minicab driver...more road-sense usually...).

Looks like he was broke down with an electrical problem then eh ? No hazards !

Try thinking of as many scenario's as possible b4 gobbing off on a situation you probably knew nothing about.

i dont know the roundabout but there do seem to be some where the done thing for forgien truckers to do is park up & check the map

[Vaux]

Howitzer said:

Cheers tt, hope I broke his hand!

And I hope they got your VRM.
They will come after you.

[Howitzer]

Vaux said:

Howitzer said:

Cheers tt, hope I broke his hand!

And I hope they got your VRM.
They will come after you.

So a cone is swung out into my lane and you hope I get done?

Are you dim?

Imagine if it was a biker, or if it went up my bonnet and smacked my screen, how about if the cone went into the middle of the road and caused an accident?

Dave!

[havoc]

Vaux said:

speedyguy said:

Hato's don't have pulling power, but can stop vehicles in the interests of safety, could save you driving over a pallet of bricks or metal pipe one day.

1 - are we convinced it was a HATO and not VOSA?
2 - Per Highway Code rule 108, HATOs are legally allowed to stop any vehicle on safety grounds. It could be an LGV with an insecure load. Could it be a driver on a mobile phone? Safety after all......?

It had HATO on the rear window...subtle clue perhaps.


As for the truck...possibly...my ire wasn't directed at the truck (if you guys had bothered to read properly), but at the HATO parked IN FRONT of the truck COMPLETELY blocking any visibility. Yes, the truck might have been broken down, yes he may have been looking at a map, or the HATO may have pulled him over in a silly spot. I don't know. The truck, ironically given it's 10x the size of the Discovery, wasn't actually the main problem.

What I DO know is that the HATO driver was a f***ing idiot for dumping a very tall Discovery right by the entrance onto a (fast) roundabout, completely blocking the view onto the roundabout at the height of rush-hour...


So...any comments about the real issue? Or do you fake coppers want to try and divert it again?!?

[anonymous-user]

[quote=havoc
It had HATO on the rear window...subtle clue perhaps.


So...any comments about the real issue? Or do you fake coppers want to try and divert it again?!?
[/quote]

Yup, if it had hato on the rear window it defo wasn't an official vehicle for a start,

and be careful on the fake coppers part, because you may get lot's of real numpties coppers who want to stick a ticket on you for anything like eating an apple at traffic lights etc,for browniepoints/goverment targets, rather than people who want to work in traffic management, (you'll prob hear the stampede for the door if fpn's etc come in to pay towards the service,so dont hold your breath) there is enough ex bobbies and everyone else doing the hato job because they don't want to be coppers,

Oh and call us all dumb if you want, but most people took a pay cut to come and do the job ( which many are now regretting) especially ex coppers, unless of course they are hobby hato's usually retired and with a lifetime of experience.

[Sgt Bilko]

Only place to park perhaps to find out what the "F" the truck driver was doing?

Cone/hand/indicator - you win some, you loose some. Expect a claim.

[Howitzer]

Sgt Bilko said:

Only place to park perhaps to find out what the "F" the truck driver was doing?

Cone/hand/indicator - you win some, you loose some. Expect a claim.

Expect a claim from the Hato guy?

I'm not persuing it, but if anything it should be me claiming.

If I had a cone and it fell off my car and hit another car, i'd expect them to be pissed at me, with good reason. It doesn't suddenly change if you wear a bright jacket and wear a hat.

Dave!

[Parrot of Doom]

This

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1189/1206744456_c70...

Is a HATO I encountered a few months back, stopping traffic to clear the motorway of a very large piece of sheet metal and wire that would certainly have been able to kill someone.


I've never seen HATO on any 'HATO' vehicles. Highways Agency on the side, but thats it.

[havoc]

speedyguy said:

havoc said:

It had HATO on the rear window...subtle clue perhaps.


So...any comments about the real issue? Or do you fake coppers want to try and divert it again?!?

Yup, if it had hato on the rear window it defo wasn't an official vehicle for a start,

OK smart-arse, "Highways Agency" or whatever it says...it was marked the same way as the rest (I've seen enough recently...usually too slowly as everyone slows down because they mistake your battenburg for the proper stuff...), and I know what a VOSA car (typically Galaxy/similar) looks like as I've family in the DoT.

speedyguy said:

and be careful on the fake coppers part, because you may get lot's of real numpties coppers who want to stick a ticket on you for anything like eating an apple at traffic lights etc,for browniepoints/goverment targets, rather than people who want to work in traffic management, (you'll prob hear the stampede for the door if fpn's etc come in to pay towards the service,so dont hold your breath) there is enough ex bobbies and everyone else doing the hato job because they don't want to be coppers,

So let me get this straight...you're BETTER than real cops because you can't issue FPNs?!? Sounds like you're no bleedin' use at all!!

I'd rather see proper Trafpol back on the roads doing the jobs they used to do. I also think the whole 'targets' nonsense should be binned immediately - it's a f'n stupid idea which has politicised the police...

speedyguy said:

Oh and call us all dumb if you want, but most people took a pay cut to come and do the job ( which many are now regretting) especially ex coppers, unless of course they are hobby hato's usually retired and with a lifetime of experience.

Really? You'll excuse me if I remain unconvinced...




Anyway, back on-topic, does anyone want to comment on why such a highly-trained "probably ex-copper" picked such a stupid spot to leave their oversized truck in?!? For a 'force' that allegedly puts 'Health & Safety' first, there was very little consideration for road-safety by that driver...

[DucatiGary]

speedyguy said:

and be careful on the fake coppers part, because you may get lot's of real numpties coppers who want to stick a ticket on you for anything like eating an apple at traffic lights etc,for browniepoints/goverment targets, rather than people who want to work in traffic management

thats a threat, if im not mistaken?

woo pretend coppers getting shirty, im really scared.

speedyguy said:

Oh and call us all dumb if you want, but most people took a pay cut to come and do the job ( which many are now regretting) especially ex coppers, unless of course they are hobby hato's usually retired and with a lifetime of experience.

erm, that one sort of answered itself no, so your trying to big yourself up by saying your doing it for the good of the country and actually paying to do it? (which you would be if you took a pay cut)

tbh, anyone who took a pay cut to do a similiar job with less percs/money/power/respect/etc has to be dumb.

IMO anyways.

[Chrispy Porker]

DucatiGary said:

speedyguy said:

and be careful on the fake coppers part, because you may get lot's of real numpties coppers who want to stick a ticket on you for anything like eating an apple at traffic lights etc,for browniepoints/goverment targets, rather than people who want to work in traffic management

thats a threat, if im not mistaken?

woo pretend coppers getting shirty, im really scared.

speedyguy said:

Oh and call us all dumb if you want, but most people took a pay cut to come and do the job ( which many are now regretting) especially ex coppers, unless of course they are hobby hato's usually retired and with a lifetime of experience.

erm, that one sort of answered itself no, so your trying to big yourself up by saying your doing it for the good of the country and actually paying to do it? (which you would be if you took a pay cut)

tbh, anyone who took a pay cut to do a similiar job with less percs/money/power/respect/etc has to be dumb.

IMO anyways.

A lot of police officers have taken pay cuts to join, Gary.
Are you saying they are all dumb?

[Vaux]

Howitzer said:

Vaux said:

Howitzer said:

Cheers tt, hope I broke his hand!

And I hope they got your VRM.
They will come after you.

So a cone is swung out into my lane and you hope I get done?

If you did anyone physical harm. And there's mental anguish to consider.
Why were you driving so close to someone on the hard shoulder?

Howitzer said:

Are you dim?

Well, I am chatting to you.......

Howitzer said:

Imagine if it was a biker, or if it went up my bonnet and smacked my screen, how about if the cone went into the middle of the road and caused an accident?

All good points and the HATO would have been in a lot of trouble if any of those had happened.

[Vaux]

Parrot of Doom said:

This

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1189/1206744456_c70...

Is a HATO I encountered a few months back, stopping traffic to clear the motorway of a very large piece of sheet metal and wire that would certainly have been able to kill someone.


I've never seen HATO on any 'HATO' vehicles. Highways Agency on the side, but thats it.

Interesting position for the HATO - it looks like the red car in lane 1 was not being too compliant with the block; it's far too close.
It says "Traffic Officer" on the rear side windows and usually on the rear door frame somewhere (till it gets washed off).

Edited by Vaux on Saturday 8th December 12:42