Smart motorways and accidents.

[blacoov]

Originally Posted by Wagon Sailor

My point is, I believe a motorway should have a hard shoulder and feel that the 'smart' thing ain't smart enough yet.

This is something I can not understand. I have driven in Europe on a number of occasions and there was no such thing as a modern motorway without hard shoulder.

I believe they tried to cope with rapidly rising volume of traffic by adding extra lane at low cost. Widening carriageway to fit an extra lane and keep hard shoulder would not always be possible and it would incur extra costs that were not budgeted for.

[john.wigley]

Originally Posted by blacoov

This is something I can not understand. I have driven in Europe on a number of occasions and there was no such thing as a modern motorway without hard shoulder.

I believe they tried to cope with rapidly rising volume of traffic by adding extra lane at low cost. Widening carriageway to fit an extra lane and keep hard shoulder would not always be possible and it would incur extra costs that were not budgeted for.

True, 'blacoov'. It is also why the M42 becomes the A42 for the last 15 miles as you approach the M1. They ran out of money to build a hard shoulder which is why that stretch could not be classified as a motorway.

I believe that if the existing motorways were used correctly with appropriate lane discipline, there would be little need to build extra running lanes.

Regards, John.

[Bendolfc]

Originally Posted by Wagon Sailor

No. I am normally going in excess of 'truck speed'. Also, I will pull into the nearside lane if someone needs me to, provided that I can see it's clear far enough ahead.




Absolutely not.


My point is, I believe a motorway should have a hard shoulder and feel that the 'smart' thing ain't smart enough yet.

I've no problem with the lack of hard shoulder, however the fact that the change was implemented before stationary vehicle detection was implemented is criminal. It is shocking that the one currently being built still do not have SVD being implemented which means that the current average time to detection is 17 minutes rather than pretty much instant.

That said, I've also got eyes and will happily use L1 as designed, I just ensure that I'm looking ahead for stationary vehicles that haven't yet been detected.

[ThomasG]

Originally Posted by john.wigley

'Morning, Thomas, you've been a little quiet of late and I was just wondering how your campaign was going?

[...]

Regards, John.

It's going along one of two predicted routes.

It was supposed to either go off with a bang, or be ignored completely.

In this case- nobody gives a flying duck.

I have to admit that the second aim of this "campaign" was achieved successfully. I'm not too happy that it was, but can't argue.

Partially the reason I'm not seen here that often anymore.

Best regards.

[john.wigley]

That's a shame, Thomas, but at least you tried. Nil desperandum!

Regards, John.

[ThomasG]

I`m more concerned wit state of... mind..

I mentioned this on some international boards. In mamy cases it found following in other countries.
i`d say i had 20 times the response abroad, for where it wasn`t aimed, than here.

And those weren`t even countries that have it implemented.
Just.. people want to participate instead of waiting for "someone else to sort it out".

[john.wigley]

Originally Posted by ThomasG

I`m more concerned wit state of... mind..

I mentioned this on some international boards. In mamy cases it found following in other countries.
i`d say i had 20 times the response abroad, for where it wasn`t aimed, than here.

And those weren`t even countries that have it implemented.
Just.. people want to participate instead of waiting for "someone else to sort it out".

I sense your frustration, Thomas, and agree with you that it is an 'attitude of mind'. But I say again - at. least. you. tried! That is more than I, or, so far as I am aware, anyone else has done. Horses, water and drinking spring to mind, but why that should apply more in the UK than elsewhere in this instance, I couldn't say.

Regards, John.

[morsing]

Originally Posted by ThomasG

J
I have to say, though, English drivers are more.. cultural on the road. Driving ethics are better.

??????

No... Well, that will depend on who you compare them to. We drive from England to Denmark yearly and England is by far the country of the nutters. Everywhere else we drive through is fairly sensible.

[ThomasG]

Originally Posted by morsing

??????

No... Well, that will depend on who you compare them to. We drive from England to Denmark yearly and England is by far the country of the nutters. Everywhere else we drive through is fairly sensible.

Try Germany or Poland..


John.

If "others" are interested, but locals can't be bothered..

What does it say about Brits?

Cause that's what I'm not happy with.

Apparently it's "a horse that wouldn't drink to save it's skin". Too much effort.

Confirming/denying THAT, was the main goal of this.

[john.wigley]

Originally Posted by ThomasG

Try Germany or Poland..


John.

If "others" are interested, but locals can't be bothered..

What does it say about Brits?

Cause that's what I'm not happy with.

Apparently it's "a horse that wouldn't drink to save it's skin". Too much effort.

Confirming/denying THAT, was the main goal of this.

Sadly, I think that you have conclusively proved your point, Thomas. Guilty as charged - there isn't really anything that I can say in our defense.

Interestingly, safety on smart motorways was in the news again this morning (R4 around 9'ish), did you catch it?

Regards, John.