You must have seen them, they put out the 800 yard markers out in the middle lane by running across the lanes of the motorway 
, now i’m not knocking them and logistically there isn’t really any other way of doing it but everyone know’s that the HA are a big company and they probably have risk assessments for sitting in a chair for too long, this just seems CRAZY 
What do you think?
I did this job for a couple of years , at the time i never thought it dangerous,
Biggest problem i ever had was with some of the big signs, if you were running it over to lane 3 , the wind could take it and move you , forward ,back sideways, or in one occasion over the amco 
.
We even made light of it from time to time by holding hands and skipping across all 3 lanes much to the bemusment of passing cars
A lot of the time we had to sit in a closure on the hard shoulder or in lane 3, often falling asleep but we always thought that our flashing lights would keep us safe, no one ever said it was dangerous so it never enterd my head at all.
But yes the worst and only one no one liked doing was setting out the cone tapper in lane 3, that involved just plain old stopping a 7.5 tonner in the fast lane jummping off the back and chucking out the cones as fast as you could.
I am going back to when they put the 3rd lane on the M5 between J6 -J8 so a few years ago now, since then they have implemented a chicane system were the inside lane gets closed first and aids the 3rd lane closure.
Looking back i still loved that job, but maybe never understood the risks involved
I’ve seen highways workings doing the 3-lane dash many times working the other side of a fence by the M1 , Laying cones in the 3rd lane would be better done with 2 vehicles really, one crawling along the fast lane -5mph to warn traffic, and the other with a worker on the back dropping the cones. Much safer that way, but double the cost i guess.
chris, if you think that is ‘hairy’ then just imagine walking out into three lanes, putting your hand up, and expecting everything to stop. 
Actually it is not that bad because there will already be something happening, therefore speeds will have been reduced. It is simply a matter of identifying a gap, with trucks in Lane 1 & 2 alongside each other, establishing eye contact, and then pointing and extending the arm. Lane 3 can look after itself. 
If a truck driver has the awareness to ‘close the door’ on Lane 3, then so much the better. 
Crossing a Motorway is no different to crossing any other road. You identify the gap, and then cross ‘expeditiously’. ‘Dashing out’ and then ‘dashing back’ having retrieved debris, is fraught with danger as it takes longer for the eye/brain connection of an approaching motorist, to register the movement. Far better, at a midpoint+ location to continue to safety and then ‘plan’ the return.
I have long speculated as to whether we actually built our Motorways back to front. Consider if you will, that instead of having the 3rd (fast) lane adjacent to the opposing 3rd lane, couldn’t they have been better built with the 1st lanes being adjacent with the hard shoulder/emergency access lane running down the middle? The difference would be that the faster traffic would be towards the outside and, any incidents which now normally result in cross-overs, would otherwise result in vehicles disappearing off into the shrubbery and fields. 
It would have made for some interesting junction configurations.
chris:
everyone know’s that the HA are a big company and they probably have risk assessments
The HA are a Government body that we as taxpayers, pay for. The people on the roads work for private subcontractors whom the HA contract to do the work.
You can figure the rest out yourself.
Mike-C:
chris:
everyone know’s that the HA are a big company and they probably have risk assessmentsThe HA are a Government body that we as taxpayers, pay for. The people on the roads work for private subcontractors whom the HA contract to do the work.
You can figure the rest out yourself.
So if they sub all the work out then what do the HA do all day…
oh yeah that’s right they ponce about in their cars pretending to be police
chris:
[oh yeah that’s right they ponce about in their cars pretending to be police
I think that must be the main appeal of the job, certainly wouldn’t fancy doing what they do for the measley sum of 17K.
Kiowan:
chris:
[oh yeah that’s right they ponce about in their cars pretending to be policeI think that must be the main appeal of the job, certainly wouldn’t fancy doing what they do for the measley sum of 17K.
Then they should share some of that 17k with proper traffic policemen and put more of them on the road.
I was in Ashford during the stack this week and saw a dwarf pretending to be a policeman 
Sorry to hijack the thread, this was about the brave lads who work on the motorways setting up roadwork lane closures and placing 17 miles of cones
Why has this thread turned into HATO baiting 
It was about the guys who put on road works 
Yes they do run across the lanes but what is the alternative, that the traffic is stopped for each sign
As said above, it is just like crossing any road, the speed is just quicker.
I will acknowledge the frustration of 17 miles of cones where nothing is happening.
However…
1 The crews that do the repairs do not enter the closure until it is complete, so you may pass when the closure is just complete but before the work crews have entered.
2 Where there are large works, the inconvenience of taking them off outweighs the inconvenience of leaving them on.
Believe it or not the HA and contractors are getting better at this.
For example, where a lane 3 closure is needed for a barrier repair ( due to a previous RTC) then they will, if possible also service the streetlights, clear debris and even cut the grass on the same section.
snafu:
Why has this thread turned into HATO baitingIt was about the guys who put on road works
Yes they do run across the lanes but what is the alternative, that the traffic is stopped for each sign
As said above, it is just like crossing any road, the speed is just quicker.
I will acknowledge the frustration of 17 miles of cones where nothing is happening.
However…
1 The crews that do the repairs do not enter the closure until it is complete, so you may pass when the closure is just complete but before the work crews have entered.
2 Where there are large works, the inconvenience of taking them off outweighs the inconvenience of leaving them on.
Believe it or not the HA and contractors are getting better at this.
For example, where a lane 3 closure is needed for a barrier repair ( due to a previous RTC) then they will, if possible also service the streetlights, clear debris and even cut the grass on the same section.
In my original post i said i was’nt knocking the contractors who do the job,
by the way thank you for the replies.
But let’s say that one night while carrying out the aforementioned risky task
a worker is knocked down and killed by a royal car which let’s say was carring the heir to the throne and they were also killed…
…did anyone order a KNEE JERK REACTION…probably something like all motorways to be shut during roadworks
[/quote]
The HA are a Government body that we as taxpayers, pay for. The people on the roads work for private subcontractors whom the HA contract to do the work.
You can figure the rest out yourself.
[/quote]
So if they sub all the work out then what do the HA do all day…
oh yeah that’s right they ponce about in their cars pretending to be police
[/quote]
Ill tell you what they do you plumb, they drive up alongside truckers who are weaving on and off the shelf to see them on the phone, oh yes, and they get driven into the back of on the hardshoulder like the hatos did last weeek on the M5. 17k, your quite right, and for what■■?, i was told they were picking up debris that fell from a,lorry. You wanna moan, moan about car drivers who slam into the barriers that cause a lane 3 to be put on.
P.S, saw a great sticker on a truck the other day. It said Hows my driving■■? and underneath it said “Hows yours”. I thought “yeah how apt”.
Would it not be a better idea to get the HA to do a roling road block for sake of 10 Min so they guys can work safely at what they do?
Only a suggestion i know some people will disagree.
steve
Big Jase:
Ill tell you what they do you plumb, they drive up alongside truckers who are weaving on and off the shelf to see them on the phone, oh yes, and they get driven into the back of on the hardshoulder like the hatos did last weeek on the M5. 17k, your quite right, and for what■■?, i was told they were picking up debris that fell from a,lorry. You wanna moan, moan about car drivers who slam into the barriers that cause a lane 3 to be put on.P.S, saw a great sticker on a truck the other day. It said Hows my driving■■? and underneath it said “Hows yours”. I thought “yeah how apt”.
Can anyone else make head nor tail of this posting?
snafu:
Why has this thread turned into HATO baiting
Cos you’re an easy target 
snafu:
where a lane 3 closure is needed for a barrier repair ( due to a previous RTC) then they will, if possible also service the streetlights, clear debris and even cut the grass on the same section.
They’re busy boys aren’t they? Maybe they can make me a brew while they’re at it
chris:
But let’s say that one night while carrying out the aforementioned risky task
a worker is knocked down and killed by a royal car which let’s say was carring the heir to the throne and they were also killed……
chances of this being 5,000,000 : 1
Whats the chances of you striking something because your running the vibra line along the hard shoulder ? 2 : 1
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Sorry have to be truthful , the peeps of the HA who put cones out etc are useless ■■■■■ , THERE I SAID IT , !
Big Jase:
moan about car drivers who slam into the barriers that cause a lane 3 to be put on. .
[/quote]
-sounds like someone talking from experience
-we’re not all glory boys on the phone jase
-plumb i know you are but wot’ am i childish i know
Chris, no mate, Only time i have had a crash is when someone drove into me, although i am experienced in stopping the traffic and towing it across with much arm waving and Victory salutes from truckers as they pass.
Now, i know i upset a few last time but I have an LGV licence and have had for 8 years now. I drove before i started here so i am aware of the drivers lot. I have many views on how ■■■ it is with expensive meals in MSA’s, crap parking, ignorant ‘Goods in’ bod’s etc etc so i am with you.
I also know we are an easy target. I do my best to advise, and if you like, educate people about who we are and what we do and many are happy to listen but there will always be a few idiots (Dazza) who just dont like us. Sadly, one or two drivers spoil it for all of you just as one or two Hato’s ruin it for us.
As an example, when I am at a job, I often see trucks way way in the distance move out into lane 2 to give us room and I always put my hand up to say thanks (To all you who have seen me wave ‘Yes that was me’) but then i also see others get a little closer just to make a point of how big and strong they are in their big trucks.
Im one of those who move out to give room to anything on the hard sholder. I dont do it to give you guys room. I only do it because I dont trust anyone on the roads these days to not get in my way! I especialy dont trust normal car drivers who stop on the motorway. Ive lost count the amount of times I see car drivers stop, and swing there door wide open as we thunder past doing 50+!
Big Jase:
there will always be a few idiots (Dazza) who just dont like us.
It’s called having a sense of humour pal, hence the emoticons.
Big Jase:
Sadly, one or two drivers spoil it for all of you just as one or two Hato’s ruin it for us.
Never would have dreamt you personally were a HATO mate, I just couldn’t understand your previous posting. The way it jabbered on, without taking a pause. It read like a John Prescott speech.
It’s fascinating how many ex-truckers have jacked in their jobs for better ones paying £17k a year. I never could get my head around this poacher-turned-gamekeeper malarky.
You live & learn.