Hmmm have they changed the laws on the use of hard shoulder recently? I was stuck on the M23 near Gatwick this morning, which was down to one lane because of an accident. Took me over an hour to travel one junction. one idiot decided to put on his hazard lights and use the hard shoulder, promptly, another 20 or 30 “sheep” followed. now as I understand it, the hard shoulder is for emergencies only, and, no matter how mush it may seem an emergency to you, being late for a flight is NOT one, although I can understand the reason for doing it. However, it was the idiots who, just before the junction, rejoined the carraigeway causeing everyone else to stop, then carrying on towards Crawley.One was an ADI in a marked training car complete with L plates and “RED” stickers on it, wish I had got his number, would have reported him to the DSA, bye bye ADI!. Where was the police van on the bridge taking pictures? Nowhere to be seen!
Another thing that seems to be getting more regular is lots of foreigners parked up with the curtains drawn.
You have to sympathise though don’t you. Imagine that, having set off in plenty of time to catch your flight to that holiday you’ve been looking forward to for months, that you are stuck, half a mile from the exit, and likely to miss the strict deadlines that they have these days to catch a flight.
To be quite honest I think I would have taken the chance and used the hard shoulder too.
No excuse for the “sheep” though.
Seems to be a common thing in queues now. Last couple of years. Is it the influx of “euro” licence holders or do people think that cos of schemes like that on the M42 apply everywhere whenever?
the M40 jcnt 14 s/b, every morning there is a queue on that slip road and people queue on the hard shoulder for that junction, fine i guess but for people coming down the motorway and want that junction they dont realise why people are queueing on the hard shoulder and they end up having to brake very hard to squeeze in onto the actuall slip road 
I was fined £60 and 3points for running in to Leigh Delamere from the 300metre marker post with class3 on tanker when engine warning light-overheat-came on.One cop was waving cars down the hard shoulder and I followed.His mate was at the end of the slip road and booked me.Another crime solved!!!The policeman looked to be about 16years old!!
Should have said there had been a 2mile queue up to there and was now stationary.I was heading East bound,the accident was just past the services.
if they run down to get off at a slip road, or into the services, then fare enough.
but cutting back in, it is bumper removal time.
limeyphil:
if they run down to get off at a slip road, or into the services, then fare enough.
but cutting back in, it is bumper removal time.
you mean like this phil youtube.com/watch?v=KspWgk0q6nY
Cruise Control:
the M40 jcnt 14 s/b, every morning there is a queue on that slip road and people queue on the hard shoulder for that junction, fine i guess but for people coming down the motorway and want that junction they dont realise why people are queueing on the hard shoulder and they end up having to brake very hard to squeeze in onto the actuall slip roadIf it’s a known trouble spot it is about time it was engineered out,it’s all very well for the locals who will be aware of it but a different story to a stranger.I hope the HA at least bother to put up warnings on the matrix boards.