The end of smart motorways....

[Just smiffy]

At last, they are a nightmare....

End of dynamic smart motorways: ‘Too complicated', says Highways England boss

Six British motorways have already been converted so hard shoulders are used only at busy times.

news.sky.com

 

[LesW]

I see the dimwit that thought it was a good Idea has blamed motorists.. ?

 

[Camping Gaza]

I want his (or hers) job.

Must be absolute heaven to wield so much power with so little brains. (something I could do so easily)

 

[Mr Chrysalis]

I don’t like them, but how can a big Red Lane Closed signal be too difficult to understand . It maybe cos everybody totally ignores the gantry signs whether it’s a speed limit or bc a lane closed sign

 

[rod_vw]

I travel the M6 through the midlands occasionally and find the extra lane a great benefit to traffic flow when people use it properly! Too many drivers especially HGV drivers seem to refuse to use the left lane.
The variable speed limits do make travel smoother prior to their introduction on the Midlands section of the M6 it was often 'stop - go' now when the variable speed limits and the managed extra lane are enabled motion seems to be smoother.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Kingham]

We don’t have ‘smart’ motorways in the NE of England at the moment, but having just returned home from a weekend in London, my journey home took in a good section of the M25 on Monday morning.

The weather was pretty damp and the speed limit changed from ‘national speed limit’ to 60mph and 50mph on several occasions, but not once did the busy traffic grind to a halt, like it does in the NE every morning and evening rush hours.

Purely for day to day traffic flow, they’re great........ (when they work properly).

 

[sylvester1954]

I've always thought if one could have shares in the Highways Agency one would make a fortune. The so called smart motorway is a classic, costing billions but now to be suspended.
How about when the HA erected all of those electronic scoreboards advising motorists what the fuel prices are at the next two service stations up ahead... why and who can afford to pay motorway fuel prices? "However l gather that has been shelved now.
Just think of the never ending investment in carriageway repairs, upgrades new barriers etc etc etc... important l agree just think if you had shares in these operations?

 

[Vipar]

I spent 2 years of 50mph road works 15 miles on the M3 I will not forget the agony that caused

 

[Tea Bag]

l agree just think if you had shares in these operations?

Hi.
Being an MP..... Perish the thought...
Tea Bag

 

[thebriars]

I want his (or hers) job.

Must be absolute heaven to wield so much power with so little brains. (something I could do so easily)

Goes for most people in senior positions, and even those in more junior positions such as the elected 650 in Westminster.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[thebriars]

We don’t have ‘smart’ motorways in the NE of England at the moment, but having just returned home from a weekend in London, my journey home took in a good section of the M25 on Monday morning.

That's only because we barely have any motorways in the north east.

 

[GWAYGWAY]

The RED X s are too far apart and if they changes as you past one it is a fair way to the next gantry, I prfer to stay out of them as never too sure if on or off. Too many crashes have happened already, if you breakdown , what do you do push it to the next layby?

 

[BusyBuilder]

My experience of ANY motorway in England is they are crowded, slow and you certainly don't get anywhere fast, should be called slowways, not motorways.
Though I'm slightly biased, the best motorway is the M74.

 

[MR. FUSION]

What planet is this guy on ? How can breaking down in a live traffic lane be safer than getting onto the hard shoulder on a conventional motorway ???? Even if you don't get to the hard shoulder in your vehicle you still have a better chance on foot of getting there because on some of the smart motorways there is a vertical wall next to the live carriageway and nowhere to hide !

However, Mr O'Sullivan insisted smart motorways are "as safe or safer than conventional motorways".

He added: "I would prefer to break down in the live lane of a managed motorway or a smart motorway than I would prefer to break down on a live lane on a conventional motorway or on a dual carriageway."

 

[Littlewheels]

What planet is this guy on ? How can breaking down in a live traffic lane be safer than getting onto the hard shoulder on a conventional motorway ???? Even if you don't get to the hard shoulder in your vehicle you still have a better chance on foot of getting there because on some of the smart motorways there is a vertical wall next to the live carriageway and nowhere to hide !

However, Mr O'Sullivan insisted smart motorways are "as safe or safer than conventional motorways".

He added: "I would prefer to break down in the live lane of a managed motorway or a smart motorway than I would prefer to break down on a live lane on a conventional motorway or on a dual carriageway."

i do believe the thought behind his comments are that on a Smart Motorway you are being watched constantly and Immediate action is taken via Gantry I struction to oncoming traffic etc where as on a conventional motorway or dual carriageway there are no cameras and the oncoming traffic is unaware of any incident ahead and therefore offers much more danger.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[CPhoenix]

A big part of the problem for a lot of motorists is the fear of being penalised for being wrong (wrong lane, wrong speed) and end up causing incidents regardless.

I say this also thinking of the M1 which turns in to a disco/rave as soon as they change the speed limits at night. I've not been caught by them but its bloody distracting to oncoming traffic when the speed cameras on opposite site of the road are trying to give you epilepsy.

 

[MR. FUSION]

i do believe the thought behind his comments are that on a Smart Motorway you are being watched constantly and Immediate action is taken via Gantry I struction to oncoming traffic etc where as on a conventional motorway or dual carriageway there are no cameras and the oncoming traffic is unaware of any incident ahead and therefore offers much more danger.

We are talking seconds here to make a decision to get out (or drive) and get on the hard shoulder, no change in gantry instructions (and motorists responding) is going to be in seconds, maybe minutes if you are lucky.

 

[romany]

probable has more to do with the three school teachers killed when their mini bus broke down and had no where to go

 

[kevenh]

That school minibus accident was on a stretch of motorway with roadworks and a closed hard shoulder. Not a smart motorway (Priors Court School RTA). Or has there been others?

 

[romany]

That school minibus accident was on a stretch of motorway with roadworks and a closed hard shoulder. Not a smart motorway (Priors Court School RTA). Or has there been others? ☹

Would have been same result on a smart motorway if something goes tits up you have no safe escape as the hard shoulder is effectively motor way

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[TinaLes]

I live near The M3 in Surrey, as mentioned by Vipar we had "Smart Motorway" Construction going on for years. There were 50MPH restrictions as soon as you joined the M3 from The M25, all the way up the hill to Lightwater, then past Camberley, then onto near Basingstoke. Yes it held us up, but it was a refreshing change to see most people adhering to the 50MPH average speed, for fear of being nicked, and dare I say it behaving like they should with less undertaking.
It makes me smile when you see or think you see someone driving at 55/56 MPH, as I think you being cleverer than us mere mortals, and allowing for the good old 50+5=10% allowance before you get nicked
If average speed cameras make people behave themselves and not drive up the arse of the car in front in outside lane at 80+MPH, and ease traffic flow then I am in favour of them, big time
Within a week of the roadworks finishing and variable speed cameras disappearing at the Camberley Cut There were two major shunts, one needing a hospital rescue helicopter, both had fatalities, and one closed the motorway all afternoon, and right through the night. It was as if people had been shacked for so long, they just threw caution to the wind,causing people to lose their lives & loved ones.

I also use the Chertsey slip down onto the M25 heading west towards The A3 often, and they have traffic control flow traffic lights at the top just as you come off the roundabout. I swear that at peak times they only let 1/2 cars through at Green before changing back to Red. Meanwhile cars coming round the roundabout behind are backing up, not allowing those wishing to enter from other directions onto the roundabout, why they didnt put the traffic lights a little further down the slip road is beyond me, as it is long enough.

So glad i dont have to hit the rush hour traffic that often these days, as its mayhem and the delays must be costing the economy millions, to what extent are people expected to get up and leave early?
Traders/service providers travelling from 20/30 miles outside into Central London any time after 6.00 AM then forget it, if you have to be up there for 8.30AM.your gonna be late.

Les

 

[PeteH]

I live near The M3 in Surrey, as mentioned by Vipar we had "Smart Motorway" Construction going on for years. There were 50MPH restrictions as soon as you joined the M3 from The M25, all the way up the hill to Lightwater, then past Camberley, then onto near Basingstoke. Yes it held us up, but it was a refreshing change to see most people adhering to the 50MPH average speed, for fear of being nicked, and dare I say it behaving like they should with less undertaking.
It makes me smile when you see or think you see someone driving at 55/56 MPH, as I think you being cleverer than us mere mortals, and allowing for the good old 50+5=10% allowance before you get nicked
If average speed cameras make people behave themselves and not drive up the arse of the car in front in outside lane at 80+MPH, and ease traffic flow then I am in favour of them, big time
Within a week of the roadworks finishing and variable speed cameras disappearing at the Camberley Cut There were two major shunts, one needing a hospital rescue helicopter, both had fatalities, and one closed the motorway all afternoon, and right through the night. It was as if people had been shacked for so long, they just threw caution to the wind,causing people to lose their lives & loved ones.

I also use the Chertsey slip down onto the M25 heading west towards The A3 often, and they have traffic control flow traffic lights at the top just as you come off the roundabout. I swear that at peak times they only let 1/2 cars through at Green before changing back to Red. Meanwhile cars coming round the roundabout behind are backing up, not allowing those wishing to enter from other directions onto the roundabout, why they didnt put the traffic lights a little further down the slip road is beyond me, as it is long enough.

So glad i dont have to hit the rush hour traffic that often these days, as its mayhem and the delays must be costing the economy millions, to what extent are people expected to get up and leave early?
Traders/service providers travelling from 20/30 miles outside into Central London any time after 6.00 AM then forget it, if you have to be up there for 8.30AM.your gonna be late.

Les

If you think that was bad, you should have tried getting from Mytchett, to Redhill, Before they opened either the M3, M25 et-al. (early 1980`s). Believe me, I knew ALL the back lanes and rat-runs!.

 

[ChrisSue]

Smart motorways are only good if used by smart drivers

 

[EuroTrotters]

I don’t like them, but how can a big Red Lane Closed signal be too difficult to understand . It maybe cos everybody totally ignores the gantry signs whether it’s a speed limit or bc a lane closed sign

I’ve come up the m6 smart motorway and watched 1000”s of motorists simply hog the 3rd lane of a 4 lane stretch for miles. When the inner 2 lanes are free.

No lane discipline .


I don’t like smart motorways but that’s why they don’t and won’t work.

Even on 4 lane stretches with a hard shoulder. You get the same idiots doing the same thing.

Go to Germany and most drivers use the lanes as they should.

 

[kevenh]

Would have been same result on a smart motorway if something goes tits up you have no safe escape as the hard shoulder is effectively motor way

You’ve still misused mrskevenh’s former colleagues deaths by taking a different scenario to fit your point.
And the hard shoulder maybe been closed to add a recovery area that people are forgetting exist on smart motorways.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Jim]

Motorways without hard shoulders are better at keeping things moving. But being semi-conscious, while you bleed out after an accident and that siren coming for you doesn't seem to be getting any closer; must be a bummer.

 

[jongood]

I travel the M6 through the midlands occasionally and find the extra lane a great benefit to traffic flow when people use it properly! Too many drivers especially HGV drivers seem to refuse to use the left lane.

I'm only prepared to go on to the hard shoulder if the Motorway is almost clear. This is because if there is a problem that's where its likely to be and in the truck or MH I would have nowhere to go.

The M6 running up to jct 9 is particularly bad where IMO it gives insufficient warning that the lane turns into the sliproad.

 

[gus-lopez]

I don’t like them, but how can a big Red Lane Closed signal be too difficult to understand . It maybe cos everybody totally ignores the gantry signs whether it’s a speed limit or bc a lane closed sign

Probbly due to for many many years we'd see the red 'X' move over then find nothing for the next 20 miles & it would still be on on the way back.

Too many drivers especially HGV drivers seem to refuse to use the left lane.

long before the M25 had to be increased to 4 + lanes the law should have been changed to prevent lorries ,coaches etc; using anything other then the inside 2 lanes.

However, Mr O'Sullivan insisted smart motorways are "as safe or safer than conventional motorways".

He added: "I would prefer to break down in the live lane of a managed motorway or a smart motorway than I would prefer to break down on a live lane on a conventional motorway or on a dual carriageway."

The man is just a ****. There are 24 accidents per week caused by vehicles being hit just on Mways with hard shoulders. He's forgetting that although they have created the extra lane in many places they have no cameras.

i do believe the thought behind his comments are that on a Smart Motorway you are being watched constantly and Immediate action is taken via Gantry I struction to oncoming traffic etc where as on a conventional motorway or dual carriageway there are no cameras and the oncoming traffic is unaware of any incident ahead and therefore offers much more danger.

It would if they did 100% but they don't. That is what the problem is.

You’ve still misused mrskevenh’s former colleagues deaths by taking a different scenario to fit your point.
And the hard shoulder maybe been closed to add a recovery area that people are forgetting exist on smart motorways.

The "recovery" areas should be like they are in Spain at heavy traffic areas, every 500m. What you get in the UK is a token effort that isn't even worth talking about.
They should also introduce solid white lines( personally I'd raise them as kerbs) at exit & entrance slip roads to stop lane changes.

 

[gus-lopez]

The M6 running up to jct 9 is particularly bad where IMO it gives insufficient warning that the lane turns into the sliproad.

The favpourite of the half wits who designed the M25.& after having been told that only the main junctions should be exit/entrance with all the rest exit only.

 

[busby]

At last, they are a nightmare....

End of dynamic smart motorways: ‘Too complicated', says Highways England boss

Six British motorways have already been converted so hard shoulders are used only at busy times.

news.sky.com

Jim o Sullivan,,what a prat that man is.Wanted to remove speed restrictions through roadworks and up the speed limit to 80 mph earlier this year.80 mph on some of our motorways would be a miracle,,lucky to do 50mph for long.BUSBY.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}