Barnsley John Posted March 21, 2020 Share Posted March 21, 2020 Not a lot is said about the people loosing there lives on smart motorways and eventually will loose more of them than the corona virus But theres no u turn on going back after the latest enquiery on the motortways But thats my rant Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve (sdh2903) Posted March 21, 2020 Share Posted March 21, 2020 I think in present times there's a damn sight more to worry about than smart motorways. 3 hours ago, Barnsley John said: loose more of them than the corona virus Highly doubtful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Waterfall Syman84 Posted March 22, 2020 Share Posted March 22, 2020 Some of you know and some don't that I work in highways and specifically providing services for Highways England directly for the last 10 years before I moved companies 8 months ago. I don't want to start an argument but just provide facts for you to make your mind up. So if you breakdown or stop on the hard shoulder of a normal motorway(3 lanes plus hard shoulder) you avarage life expectancy is 7 minutes. If you look at the deaths, 38 on smart motorways sections of motorway in the last 5 years c400miles of the strategic road network and then look at the deaths on the rest of the none smart sections. A new smart motorway is twice as safe as a conventional motorway. Yes there can and will be further improvements after the review. But in light of the current issues the country are facing it will now probably take longer than was originally expected to deliver these improvements. Stay safe. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenton Posted March 22, 2020 Share Posted March 22, 2020 While driving on a "smart" motorway I was in the open hard shoulder (felt very abnormal) all the gantry signs said lane open when I was faced with a stationary lorry. I for one am NEVR going to drive on the hard shoulder again. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Kinder (Bagpuss) - Joint Peak District AO Posted March 22, 2020 Share Posted March 22, 2020 My biggest SMART motorway gripes are: 1. Why do HGV's need to use lane 3? 2. Why are we reliant on human's looking at screens to control the matrix signs? I've seen messages on the matrix signs which are clearly >4 hour old. Part of the reason for M6 J16-19 taking so long was because they were putting traffic flow sensors in the tamac (don't know why when this data is available from the mobile phone networks). I'm yet to see evidence that these are being used? 3. SMART motorways requires SMART drivers, sadly I've not met many 😃 too many twonks, sat in their cars when they break down staying warm, driving to close to vehicle in front, hence can't see the broken down vehicle until it's too late. Thanks to @syman84 for being brave enough to admit being involved in them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve (sdh2903) Posted March 22, 2020 Share Posted March 22, 2020 My main issue with the smart motorways is the simple fact you are making drivers continuously look up at the gantrys at the ever changing speed limits instead of at the road ahead. Stuff happens quickly at 70mph. That coupled with the speed cameras to catch you if you do miss a speed change means people are more feared of being speeding than actually watching the road ahead. I like the concept of using all of the available carriageway but it definitely needs refinement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Everall Posted March 22, 2020 Share Posted March 22, 2020 Not really too difficult to watch the motorway signs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve (sdh2903) Posted March 22, 2020 Share Posted March 22, 2020 But since when was driving about continuously looking up at the signs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blatman Posted March 22, 2020 Share Posted March 22, 2020 3 hours ago, syman84 said: So if you breakdown or stop on the hard shoulder of a normal motorway(3 lanes plus hard shoulder) you avarage life expectancy is 7 minutes. Can you point me to the government study that issued that statistic please? I'd like to have a read of that document. 1 hour ago, Ian Kinder (Bagpuss) - Joint Peak District AO said: Part of the reason for M6 J16-19 taking so long was because they were putting traffic flow sensors in the tamac (don't know why when this data is available from the mobile phone networks). I'm yet to see evidence that these are being used? I'm betting they're a test bed for road pricing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan France Posted March 22, 2020 Share Posted March 22, 2020 Agree with @Blatman facts are very confusing. I found the following range, with little fact to back up the figures. Police Statistics quoting life expectancy at 30 minutes if you remain in the vehicle. (Unconfirmed) The Independent quoting 15 to 20 minutes (Unconfirmed) UK Business Forums quoting 12 minutes (Unconfirmed) I doubt if there will be any official figures on life expectancy on those circumstances. I found this FOI: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/road-traffic-collision-and-hard-shoulder-data But data virtually ends at 2016. Here are a few more to go through. https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/road-accidents-and-safety-statistics I'm with @kenton the risk is the large vehicle in front of you, that overtakes the parked vehicle in front of it, at the very last minute. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAFKARM Posted March 22, 2020 Share Posted March 22, 2020 17 hours ago, Barnsley John said: Not a lot is said about the people loosing there lives on smart motorways and eventually will loose more of them than the corona virus But theres no u turn on going back after the latest enquiery on the motortways But thats my rant That line of thought is exactly why this has become a pandemic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Everall Posted March 22, 2020 Share Posted March 22, 2020 But you always have to look up for signs on a motorway such as M25 , M62, M42 etc so what's the problem ....you just move your eyes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve (sdh2903) Posted March 22, 2020 Share Posted March 22, 2020 29 minutes ago, Terry Everall - WSCC Competition Secretary said: But you always have to look up for signs on a motorway such as M25 , M62, M42 etc so what's the problem ....you just move your eyes Are you looking at signs your whole journey? Because I certainly don't. Every few hundred yards? What about if your making a manoeuvre, a lane change, a lorry overtake whatever. Your doing the things your supposed to be doing, looking at mirrors, signalling, checking your blind spot. Oh **** there was another gantry, was that a speed change? Lane closure? Am I now speeding? Should I be in this lane? Its all an unnecessary distraction imo. All whilst travelling at motorway speeds. And fact is these smart motorways are at the busiest most manic sections of UK motorways by design. When your attention is needed elsewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Everall Posted March 22, 2020 Share Posted March 22, 2020 Luckily I can multitask . Signs are not always useful but they are there to read and take notice of. A bit like speed limit signs really ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve (sdh2903) Posted March 22, 2020 Share Posted March 22, 2020 Guess we're not all up to your driving ability Terry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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