Now I’m pretty sure someone will correct me if I’m wrong on this………..
I broke down a year ago on a ‘smart’ stretch of the M1, got the motor into a yellow painted lay by, the ones indicated for ‘emergency only’, yeah?
A DAFAid van came and had a look, couldn’t sort it, and organised recovery. Before he left me, he rang Highways Agency to inform them he was leaving the lay by. Highways closed the lane and reduced the speed to 50.
Recovery turns up, hitches up the wagon, we climb aboard, and he does the same. Again, he rings Highways, the lane is closed and a 50mph speed limit is put in place.
So it would seem that in order for a vehicle to leave an emergency stopping area, Highways have to be informed so they can control the traffic. Sounds feasible, yes?
So if any of you feel the need to use one for a yellow warning light, loose strap, phone call etc, I’d definitely get on the phone and tell the traffic wombles to shut the lane before you leave, unlike the complete muppet in the ex Maritime unit on the approach to Jct.19 northbound on the M1 yesterday afternoon, who thought it was a great idea to stick the offside corner of his unit just over the line, forcing other trucks right onto the line between lanes 1 and 2. If you’re on here, chap, I’d be having serious words with myself about doing stuff like that.
As a related thing, apparently to recover a truck and trailer that’s broken-down, it can’t be recovered without a complete land closure due to their not being enough room for the recovery wagon to get in behind / in-front of it on the pull-in lay-by!?
I was fortunate enough to be in a 18 ton rigid chassis cab (brand new!!!) that could still move, so i was able to move back to give the wrecker enough room.
My uncle ran out of fuel once on non smart motorway near Stockport..he rang me so I went up with can of fuel he was on hard shoulder.
Highways were in attendance once got him going. They said wait there were put on a rolling roadblock to let you join safely.
So we waited and waited after 10 mins we gave up and took matters into our own hands.
Think they forgot about us
I wouldn’t put a block on for a car to rejoin the main carriageway from the hard shoulder. They simply get told to build their speed up on the hard shoulder, once they see a suitable gap, indicate and rejoin the traffic.
Of course you wouldn’t that’s just common sense. But you still get the odd ■■■■■■ pulling straight out in a car.
Think the op is more on about trying to get out of the shi tty emergency areas when it’s dark and poor weather in busy traffic., add to that a heavy trailer. Not easy.
Will highways put on a closure for anyone who asks? Just curious.
Only ever used one once to reattach a wiper blade that had come off lol
All the smart emergency areas are covered by camera and have telephones direct to the control room, give them a call and request assistance, they’ll either send a patrol or set signals for you and cancel them once they see you’ve left the bay.
All good and well but you can’t predict that drivers will move over when there’s a lane closure in place
Going by the amount of drivers who ignore such signs I’m guessing they don’t get fined for it
Really? If so I welcome it massively. Being typically British I join queues for fun and nothing pisses me off more than ■■■■■■■■■■■ undertaking me under red X’s.
Everyone on here knows I’m a Highways Traffic officer, I know through work instructions they’re live as we have exemptions to drive under red Xs when responding to incidents.
That reminded me, last time I was queued up waiting as traffic was moved into two lanes from 4, a couple of melts decided they should use the hard shoulder to keep on moving, that being caught by camera and fined would be nice as well.
Tbf mate, I don’t know why these guys get such a raw deal with people.
The populist opinion is they are wannabe coppers, but any dealings I’ve had with them they have been fine, and most helpful.. ..and I’d be relieved to know they would be helping my Mrs or daughters if they needed it.
Oh btw I’m the first to admit to wearing shades when not needed, I’ve got an image to maintain..
But Raybans, FGs are soo 80s.
.
