Smart Motorways

[garyboy]

, Reduce the speed limit to 50mph
Admittedly this results in a hairy situation, and there is a narrow lane area near me ..but perhaps a 40mph speed limit for this idea would keep the traffic flowing continuously.

Reduce the speed limits - are you completely mad?

Next you'll be blaming Margaret Thatcher, proving your insanity beyond doubt!

experienced, sensible travellers will know that it is often quicker to reach a destination by travelling at a slower speed, especially in congestion .. where faster traffic will tend to bunch up, then come to a standstill ... Steve is aware of this, and sees it often, past his property. People like you will always want to go fast and clog up the system .. shame really, when a bit of thought will help us all along.

Are you suggesting that Mrs Thatcher was the twat that was throwing litter behind Steve's fence
I am sure you can't be that much of a silly twat

[DavidS]

Put up a high mesh fence your side of the fence if they won’t do it for you.
A bit of self preservation seems necessary.

[Richard Simpson Mark II]

Back on topic...slightly.

The original spec for smart motorways included automatic detection of stopped vehicles, and a 'refuge' every 1/4 mile or 400 metres. Neither actually happened.

I had a bit of a discussion with a senior civil servant from the Highways Agency, who assured me that the total accident rate dropped when motorways converted to 'smart', plus traffic flows increased. But this doesn't alter the fact that a vehicle that stops in free-flowing traffic will probably be hit before a camera operator spots it.

He didn't seem to grasp a point I tried to make...the refuges weren't long enough to accommodate an articulated truck, and a recovery truck. When you think about it, this is a bit of a flaw.

I have got my passenger to call 999 when we spotted a car having a blowout on the outside lane of a smart motorway at night...we later had a call back from the police thanking us and saying they had closed the lane and averted a crash. You need to know where you are on the motorway to do this.

People don't seem to realise whet the red X overhead sign means. The lane is closed and you must not pass under the sign.

40 mph is the speed that maximises traffic flow....but the revenue from speed cameras on smart motorways is also a great source of income for the Government.

[Richard Simpson Mark II]

Put up a high mesh fence your side of the fence if they won’t do it for you.
A bit of self preservation seems necessary.

Either that, or start a used lorry parts business. You've probably had enough components to build a really knackered ERF thrown into your field over the years.

[garyboy]

I was thinking a burger van .. side on to the fence .. would be good
.. motorway prices, of course

o .. and a coin operated portaloo on your land?





.. not your fault if people illegally reach over to your side .. or trespass to poop

[Oop North John]

Put up a high mesh fence your side of the fence if they won’t do it for you.
A bit of self preservation seems necessary.

At most, if not all, the laybys on the A90 north of Dundee they have high fences to stop rubbish being thrown off into the fields etc. Don't know who pays for it though. And it'll reduce the other unwanted deposits from road users

Hopefully this shows an example: https://www.google.com/maps/@56.9275847 ... 312!8i6656

[Crossrutted]

experienced, sensible travellers will know that it is often quicker to reach a destination by travelling at a slower speed, especially in congestion .. where faster traffic will tend to bunch up, then come to a standstill ... Steve is aware of this, and sees it often, past his property. People like you will always want to go fast and clog up the system .. shame really, when a bit of thought will help us all along.

Sorry to disappoint you, however on motorways I'm generally in the "slower" category on my twice a day 60 mile M62 journey.

[Chalky723]

You say it's moving better since the "smartening" - well that's because they've effectively added another lane.

If they were going to do that safely, they'd be widening & keeping the hard shoulder - nabbing a slice of your land....

It's a half arsed solution & someone has decided that the compensation for the occasional death or 5 will still be miles cheaper than splashing out on doing it properly.....

D

[DavidS]

For a serious solution attempt, write formally to Highways England (?) complaining about the situation and asking for fencing to be provided at their cost to stop rubbish and toilet use.
If you don’t get a positive response, copy it in to your Parish, District and County Councillor and also your MP asking if they can help. You shouldn’t have to suffer at the hands of something beyond your control.

At our previous house we had a running track at the end of a garden raised on a bank, with conifers. We got fed up with the number of oiks who came onto the bank in full view for a pi**. The trick was to wait for them to get in full flow then run out screaming and shouting at them or, if timing was right, a hose just to one side of them to scare them enough to get wet shorts.

[SteveW]

100% The M6 runs far better since its upgrade to Smart.
Because the traffic keeps moving even at the busiest times, there are less collisions involving moving vehicles impacting stationary ones.
What about.....
A mandatory 50mph speed limit in lane one, with chevrons on the carriageway indicating a compulsory distance between vehicles.
This would create a "quiet" Lane for motorists who feel threatened by the cut and thrust of motorway driving, or motorists who just can't be arsed changing lane. This should make stopping between refuge areas safer.
Moving the Armco barriers back away from Lane one where possible on stretches between refuge areas to allow "ditching" of vehicles in a way so as to reduce intrusion into Lane one.
More refuge areas.
Better monitoring of the motorway.
Public safety information "Adverts" giving advice on Smart Motorways on TV.