Parking on a motorway hard shoulder

[d000hg]

When the hard shoulder is opened the traffic speeds will have dropped to below 50mph. It is therefore envisaged that if an accident does occur it is likely to be less severe in nature and should not require the attendance of the emergency services.

That's a load of crap. For a start <50mph means the average speed. And you can still have a good accident at that speed.

Should the Emergency services be required to attend, the signs and signals will be set to close the affected lanes and divert traffic out of them. This should free up a lane to allow the emergency service vehicles clear access to the incident.

When the roads are chockablock? Good luck.

You would have thought that, with all those experts in traffic management working for years on this scheme, they would have realised that. The fact that they've never even suspected this obvious failing during several years of operating the scheme here and abroad shows what a bunch of incompetent charlatans they are. You should write to them explaining why this system that appears on the surface to be working very well is in fact fundamentally flawed

Still so confident in how smart our public sector are? Obviously they have shown great expertise in running the rest of the country.

[NickFitz]

You can just say you don't know, it would have been less typing.

Or I could JFGI - oh, hang on, I did:

The hard shoulder will only be a running lane in heavy traffic, but this is the most likely time for accidents to occur. How will emergency services reach an accident with no hard shoulder?

The use of the hard shoulder will only be required prior to the onset of congestion. When the hard shoulder is opened the traffic speeds will have dropped to below 50mph. It is therefore envisaged that if an accident does occur it is likely to be less severe in nature and should not require the attendance of the emergency services.

Should the Emergency services be required to attend, the signs and signals will be set to close the affected lanes and divert traffic out of them. This should free up a lane to allow the emergency service vehicles clear access to the incident.

Being able to open separate sections of the hard shoulder also provides the ability to clear the traffic quickly ahead of any incident, thus allowing the filtering of traffic to proceed quickly.

- CBRD » In Depth » Active Traffic Management

[MarillionFan]

What if it's in force and an accident happens when the road is full... seems unlikely everyone will be able to filter back in to the other lanes.

The big roads here seem to have emergency lanes on both sides of each carriageway, i.e. inside & outside. But then if the road is 6 lanes either way, why not...

WHS

Hard-shoulder driving lies ahead for motorways in effort to reduce congestion

I remember that parts of the M1 have been allowed to use the hardshoulder. So if you were driving and an accidnt occurs you're going to get stuck on the hardshoulder. In addition in the many times I have seen an accident and been stuck in traffic the hardshoulder has remained free apart from a time into London where the hard shoulder was being used for traffic.

I think this thread is bollocks.

[Mr.Whippy]

What if it's in force and an accident happens when the road is full... seems unlikely everyone will be able to filter back in to the other lanes.

I guess that's just a consequence of having it in force. The point is that, as far as I'm aware, it's not in force at that time on the M1... yet the hard shoulder is full of selfish idiots who either believe their need to get to their destination is far more important than obeying the law or they're so thick they don't even understand what they're doing.

[d000hg]

You would have thought that, with all those experts in traffic management working for years on this scheme, they would have realised that. The fact that they've never even suspected this obvious failing during several years of operating the scheme here and abroad shows what a bunch of incompetent charlatans they are. You should write to them explaining why this system that appears on the surface to be working very well is in fact fundamentally flawed

You can just say you don't know, it would have been less typing.

[NickFitz]

What if it's in force and an accident happens when the road is full... seems unlikely everyone will be able to filter back in to the other lanes.

You would have thought that, with all those experts in traffic management working for years on this scheme, they would have realised that. The fact that they've never even suspected this obvious failing during several years of operating the scheme here and abroad shows what a bunch of incompetent charlatans they are. You should write to them explaining why this system that appears on the surface to be working very well is in fact fundamentally flawed

[Freamon]

He's obviously not aware of the section of the highway code that says you must not walk on a motorway.

[d000hg]

It's called Active Traffic Management, and is succinctly described in Highway Code rule 269:

In areas where an Active Traffic Management (ATM) Scheme is in force, the hard shoulder may be used as a running lane. You will know when you can use this because a speed limit sign will be shown above all open lanes, including the hard shoulder. A red cross or blank sign above the hard shoulder means that you MUST NOT drive on the hard shoulder except in an emergency or breakdown. Emergency refuge areas have also been built into these areas for use in cases of emergency or breakdown.

What if it's in force and an accident happens when the road is full... seems unlikely everyone will be able to filter back in to the other lanes.

The big roads here seem to have emergency lanes on both sides of each carriageway, i.e. inside & outside. But then if the road is 6 lanes either way, why not...

[gingerjedi]

Don't do it kids... not a good idea

M1 accident emergency lane blocked - YouTube

Fair play to this bloke

Sanctimonious gobtulipe.

(not Mr.Whippy)

[NickFitz]

And on many roads they turn the hard shoulder into a regular lane at times... how does that work in case of a problem?

It's called Active Traffic Management, and is succinctly described in Highway Code rule 269:

In areas where an Active Traffic Management (ATM) Scheme is in force, the hard shoulder may be used as a running lane. You will know when you can use this because a speed limit sign will be shown above all open lanes, including the hard shoulder. A red cross or blank sign above the hard shoulder means that you MUST NOT drive on the hard shoulder except in an emergency or breakdown. Emergency refuge areas have also been built into these areas for use in cases of emergency or breakdown.

[Mr.Whippy]

Hmm, can't the ambulance come done the other side of the road?

Into oncoming traffic? or are you proposing they close the M1 in both directions rather than just one?

[d000hg]

Hmm, can't the ambulance come done the other side of the road? And on many roads they turn the hard shoulder into a regular lane at times... how does that work in case of a problem?

[Mr.Whippy]

Don't do it kids... not a good idea

M1 accident emergency lane blocked - YouTube

Fair play to this bloke