The AA has become the latest organisation to raise concerns about smart motorways – after telling its breakdown crews not to stop in them to help stranded motorists.
The policy of the AA was confirmed in a BBC documentary on the controversial roads and comes as families whose loved ones have been killed apply for a judicial review challenging the system.
Tony Rich, a former AA patrolman of the year, said drivers stuck on the roads must wait as long as 17 minutes to be moved, due to problems such as breaking down out of sight of cameras supposed to monitor motorways for stranded cars. On other occasions these cameras are simply not working, he added. Explaining the AA’s smart motoway policy, he said: “We’ll contact the customer to say ‘we can’t stop where you are’. We will contact Highways England, go to a safe area and wait for the vehicle to be delivered.”
Warning of scenarios that can increase danger, he added: “It could be that the vehicle may have an electrical fault and its lights are not working… it can be the case that nobody notices it.”
Drivers can be put at risk by smart motorways because most are fitted with sensors which can only detect queuing traffic. The documentary team found sensors which can actually detect stationary vehicles are fitted to just two sections of the M25 – a mere 18 per cent of the UK’s smart motorway network.
drover:
Shocking really that they are still building this crap, can understand the AA policy it’s highly dangerous for their drivers…
Sent from my SM-A750FN using Tapatalk
So does the AA/RAC refuse to go to a break down on an A road dual carriageway, like the A34 or A12 ? Or do they wait till said vehicle has been towed/pushed to a lay-by, don’t think so.
Not saying that these Smart M/ways are a good idea, but the AA’s comments are a bit pathetic.
drover:
Shocking really that they are still building this crap, can understand the AA policy it’s highly dangerous for their drivers…
Sent from my SM-A750FN using Tapatalk
So does the AA/RAC refuse to go to a break down on an A road dual carriageway, like the A34 or A12 ? Or do they wait till said vehicle has been towed/pushed to a lay-by, don’t think so.
Not saying that these Smart M/ways are a good idea, but the AA’s comments are a bit pathetic.
I see your point in a way.
But there’s a big difference between 2 lanes of traffic on a dual carriage way.
Compared to 4 lanes doing 70mph plus
Last night watching traffic cops, a Daf unit hit a broken down car on the A38. Does this make the A38 a dangerous road? It’s not the road that dangerous but the drivers using it.
BUT they have been implemented on the cheap. Highways England should have had more resources monitoring smart sections and more patrols patrolling but control rooms often run at, or below, minimum staffing levels and crews are not allowed to patrol.
I despise HE senior management with a passion but they are not entirely to blame. As much as I hate to say it !!
Glad that I don’t live in Englandshire. It takes eleven minutes to be hit but it takes seventeen minutes for a tow. I heard of a young woman being told that there is a ten month wait for an abortion.
alamcculloch:
Glad that I don’t live in Englandshire. It takes eleven minutes to be hit but it takes seventeen minutes for a tow. I heard of a young woman being told that there is a ten month wait for an abortion.
drover:
Shocking really that they are still building this crap, can understand the AA policy it’s highly dangerous for their drivers…
Sent from my SM-A750FN using Tapatalk
So does the AA/RAC refuse to go to a break down on an A road dual carriageway, like the A34 or A12 ? Or do they wait till said vehicle has been towed/pushed to a lay-by, don’t think so.
Not saying that these Smart M/ways are a good idea, but the AA’s comments are a bit pathetic.
I see your point in a way. But there’s a big difference between 2 lanes of traffic on a dual carriage way. Compared to 4 lanes doing 70mph plus
Why are they sooo different. The same speed limit applies and is complied with or abused in the same way. The Highway Code still places an expectation that you drive so as to stop in the distance you can see to be safe. Perhaps the challenge is that on M’ways we tend to think less about there being a broken down on the nearside. Thats the real problem - that we have grown accustomed to that extra safety divide
A few weeks ago on the M1, I saw a family of four standing the other side of the crash barrier with their broken down car, it was when passing, I noticed the lane warning lights come on. That means they all had to exit the vehicle with lorries coming up behind, at full pelt, no warning given to the lorry driver to slow down, it’s an absolute disgrace
‘’‘Why are they sooo different. The same speed limit applies and is complied with or abused in the same way. The Highway Code still places an expectation that you drive so as to stop in the distance you can see to be safe. Perhaps the challenge is that on M’ways we tend to think less about there being a broken down on the nearside. Thats the real problem - that we have grown accustomed to that extra safety divide
[/quote]
‘’’
Because on motorways such things as horse drawn vehicles bicycles tractors pedestrians and learners out for the first time in their dads corsa won’t be encountered, nor will vehicles be entering or leaving laybys, junctions usually to a standard that vehicles entering or leaving the motorway itself should be at or above 40mph, no right turning traffic, those are for a kick off.
If we’re going to expect stationary vehicles in lanes because overpaid underperforming cretins have decided a proper hard shoulder is no longer needed, then we might as well remove motorway classification and allow all other road users on.
Juddian:
‘’'Why are they sooo different. The same speed limit applies and is complied with or abused in the same way. The Highway Code still places an expectation that you drive so as to stop in the distance you can see to be safe. Perhaps the challenge is that on M’ways we tend to think less about there being a broken down on the nearside. Thats the real problem - that we have grown accustomed to that extra safety divide
‘’’
Because on motorways such things as horse drawn vehicles bicycles tractors pedestrians and learners out for the first time in their dads corsa won’t be encountered, nor will vehicles be entering or leaving laybys, junctions usually to a standard that vehicles entering or leaving the motorway itself should be at or above 40mph, no right turning traffic, those are for a kick off.
If we’re going to expect stationary vehicles in lanes because overpaid underperforming cretins have decided a proper hard shoulder is no longer needed, then we might as well remove motorway classification and allow all other road users on.
[/quote]
You sir are wasted on here - I have never seen an irrelevant or silly post from you - you should be in Parliament sorting out the clowns in there
Juddian:
‘’'Why are they sooo different. The same speed limit applies and is complied with or abused in the same way. The Highway Code still places an expectation that you drive so as to stop in the distance you can see to be safe. Perhaps the challenge is that on M’ways we tend to think less about there being a broken down on the nearside. Thats the real problem - that we have grown accustomed to that extra safety divide
‘’’
Because on motorways such things as horse drawn vehicles bicycles tractors pedestrians and learners out for the first time in their dads corsa won’t be encountered, nor will vehicles be entering or leaving laybys, junctions usually to a standard that vehicles entering or leaving the motorway itself should be at or above 40mph, no right turning traffic, those are for a kick off.
If we’re going to expect stationary vehicles in lanes because overpaid underperforming cretins have decided a proper hard shoulder is no longer needed, then we might as well remove motorway classification and allow all other road users on.
You sir are wasted on here - I have never seen an irrelevant or silly post from you - you should be in Parliament sorting out the clowns in there
[/quote]
Agreed except the love of the uncomfortable Seddon Atkinson
Juddian:
‘’'Why are they sooo different. The same speed limit applies and is complied with or abused in the same way. The Highway Code still places an expectation that you drive so as to stop in the distance you can see to be safe. Perhaps the challenge is that on M’ways we tend to think less about there being a broken down on the nearside. Thats the real problem - that we have grown accustomed to that extra safety divide
‘’’
Because on motorways such things as horse drawn vehicles bicycles tractors pedestrians and learners out for the first time in their dads corsa won’t be encountered, nor will vehicles be entering or leaving laybys, junctions usually to a standard that vehicles entering or leaving the motorway itself should be at or above 40mph, no right turning traffic, those are for a kick off.
If we’re going to expect stationary vehicles in lanes because overpaid underperforming cretins have decided a proper hard shoulder is no longer needed, then we might as well remove motorway classification and allow all other road users on.
You sir are wasted on here - I have never seen an irrelevant or silly post from you - you should be in Parliament sorting out the clowns in there
Agreed except the love of the uncomfortable Seddon Atkinson
[/quote]
Hi Dan - Long time - no speak - hope you & yours are well ?
> Punchy Dan: > Agreed except the love of the uncomfortable Seddon Atkinson
If the luxurious SA was uncomfortable - the preceding Seddons (Plus any other British make of the Period) were sheer torture, but a good market for the makers of Haemorrhoid treatments
