I’ll now try to answer some of the points that you’ve all brought up.
First of all why I look at this website, HGV’s were a big part of my life for over 35 years, and I have many fond (& some not too fond) memories. I like you used to think all HGV drivers were Gods of the road, unfortunately I’ve had my eyes opened in this job that they ALL aren’t, the vast majority of HGV drivers are, but there looks to be a growing percentage that give you all a bad name, and for the record, it’s the members on this site that call these people “HGV steerers” rather than drivers, I just used it as a description for those of you that couldn’t find there way without being personally led by the hand.
norfolkinclue1
You make some valid points which I’ll try to answer.
The “travel time” VMS are set automatically be cameras similar to the ANPR camera’s, they read a bunch of numberplates then work out the average time it takes them to get to the next check site. (they never give a better time than 70mph will take) These can be a bloody nuisance, as when there is an incident, it then gives an incorrect reading for some time. I personally don’t like them because of this, but have to put up with them.
Messages about closures. We in the Regional Control Rooms are only allowed to set signs in the immediate location of the job, the NTIC set the strategic messages, ie the ones that you see miles away about something on a road that you’ve never heard of. They are set on the assumption of, 1 hour closure = set messages 60 miles away, 2 hours = set 120 miles away, this is for the benefit of you long distance truckers so that you can take an alternative route.
As for the message signs going north on the M6, from J31A, they are all decommissioned at the moment (have been for a few weeks now) whilst the junction alterations are carried out at j32/M55 junction. then there are only a few between there and Scotland.
The 40 stuck on, maybe it was, this does happen from time to time, we can’t switch it off, and engineer has to go to the sign and do that, to do this traffic management (ie a lane closure both sides) has to go on. Engineers prioritize the jobs, with those showing lane closures incorrectly as the most important to sort out first.
TerryT
What you’ve brought up is a serous mistake on someones part, it could be incorrect information but I agree with you, it does sound like it’s been set wrong.
Scanny77
Reopen times.
When anything is reported as possibly impeding a live c/way, we inform the NTIC, they will then inform the media similar to “that there is a report of an RTC J34 - J33 southbound”
Once either a Police or HATO patrol arrives, they make a very quick assessment as to if injuries /number of veh’s involved & types/ and what part of the c/way is involved/ if other resources are required, ie Ambo, fire, contractors.
ANY Injury RTC becomes a police incident automatically, they are then in charge, the HATO service will deploy traffic management closing lanes / junctions / sliproads etc as requested by the police.
As more information is passed back to our control room, we immediately inform the NTIC who will change any strategic messages accordingly, and update the media.
- This is why I know the information was passed on and messages were altered for this job, as I passed it on, I then checked the signs to make sure they’d been changed.
Now the incident we’re on about, no serious injuries, just major damage to a couple of HGV’s and debris,fuel etc on the c/way, everyone at the scene believed that it shouldn’t take more than a couple of hours to clear or a least get one lane running, so that’s what the NTIC put out.
Once the tanker was moved, it was found that the road surface was knackered, the fuel had started to disintegrate the tarmac, there was no-way any lanes could be opened to traffic.
Meanwhile, HATO’s were closing the c/way at J34, sending veh’s along the diversion route, other HATO’s were doing their best to attend to drivers stuck in the queues, everyone was probably thirsty, but there were people with medical issues (we had to get an ambo to one) HATO’s tried to attend the most urgent first, but as it’s been said, it is very difficult, with parts of the H/S missing (This part of the motorway was originally built as 2 lanes so the original H/S is now lane 1) you’ve also got to remember that as time moves on, the traffic now in the snarl-up, had the opportunity to leave the motorway at earlier junctions but chose to join in the problem.
All reopening times are given on a “Best guess” from previous experiences as the information changes.
As for maps, surely if a professional driver you’d carry one, Just in case. Yahoo | Mail, Weather, Search, Politics, News, Finance, Sports & Videos
Peterm & indigojo
I’ve done my best previously to explain why you might not see anything when signs are set, but I’ll go again.
50’s “incident” are set when anything is reported to us that could be affecting a live lane.
I didn’t check the log right back, but I’ll bet that this job first came in as an RTC, J34 - J33. so 50’s would have been set from the first signal prior J34 right down to J33.
Once we know a markerpost location, they can be trimmed, if that markerpost location comes from an official source, and gives what lanes need to be closed, then signals can be altered to show that.
Now a lot of incidents come in, we set the signals for 50’s and we send patrols, until either a HATO or police patrol has searched the area, then they’ll tell us “No Trace” and signals will be cleared.
Often the wrong locations are given, but the location has to be checked first.
So if you see 50’s INCIDENT, it could be anything from a major RTC like this one was, or nothing, just be aware and adjust your driving so that you can take avoiding action if you do come across something.
QUEUES
ANY message sign that has “QUEUE” on, has been set automatically by MIDAS (Google it) wire loops sunk in the road surface hat detect traffic speed, each loop is checked automatically approx every 4 minutes, adjusting the signals accordingly.
ROADWORKS
Yes, I fully agree with you on this, they are a problem. I’ll go through the process of what actually happens, it’s not fantastic.
A TSO (Traffic Safety Officer, ie the foreman of the traffic management vehicle) call us up, gives us the information where the roadworks are going on, markerpost from and markerpost to, what lanes, and what it’s on for.
We ask him if he’s on scene ready for the signals to be set, invariably he says “yes” so we set the lane closures accordingly.
Now actually he’s on scene, but he’s actually still got to put out the 800, 600, 400, 200 yds signs first before he starts to put out the cones for the closure. so the sigs can be showing for closures whilst this is happening.
Once the roadworks are completely on, the TSO calls back and we switch off the electronic signs.
When the TSO is ready to remove the roadworks, he recalls and we switch them back on. He backs up inside he closure removing the cones, then once the last cone is picked up, they go forwards to the next junction and turn around back to the previous junction, so as to come back in and start to clear all the 800, 600 etc hard signs down, yet the electronic signs are still set for closures,---- not good really, I agree, but it’s how it happens. We are also getting different sub contractors doing these jobs, as their tender must have come in at a lower cost.
Now I’ll get back to this incident in question, as eachpeice of information came in from the police or patrols at scene, everything was done to inform the general public & drivers, all the available message signs from the very top of he M6 at Gretna showed that the M6 was closed, between eith J34 - J33, or when it changed, J35 - J33, all the media were immediately informed, so it went out on traffic radio and the TV, the HA website was kept updated, twitter accounts for the NWPMG (Motorway), Lancashire police, ■■■■■■■ police were updated, yet some of your colleagues say we didn’t do our job, I ask you, what else could we do? That is why I got angry about the comments made.
Note, If there are any t’s missing or r’s missing from this post, I apologise, I need a new keyboard!
I’m certainly no princess, I scratch my balls and ■■■■ too much. 
the queen does too 
most motorists who use the MOTORWAYS are car drivers 
you have the head honcho in the I.A.M magazine writing and telling advance motorists to stay in the middle lane ( ex traffic top dog no less! ) because the killer juggernauts will have you!