Why do they close motorways for hours after an accident?

[dave50]

They say it's for investigations. Why? The main priority is to clear the road and get traffic moving again. Get people to hospital, clear the junk then off we go again, never mind walking around for hours with tape measures and standing around discussing it. A sixteen mile traffic jam on the M62 yesterday and it wasn't even life threatening, it was only a shunt, a motor cyclist taken to hospital but he was fine, that's it.

[friedgreentomato]

Clear up debris, carry out the investigation and ensure that all liquids that may cause slippage is made safe!

[Old_Geezer]

They will go by the book and use the time to gather the details. Getting traffic back to normal is a lower priority. Those waiting are unimportant.

[bookbinder]

I believe that, if someone has been injured, the police treat it as a crime scene, rather than just a RTA (road traffic accident). Hence all the closing down and measuring up.

[EvianBaby]

There is no such thing as an 'accident' to the police.

I'm pretty sure if you got smashed into by somebody on a road, you'd like to find out why.

[NoMercy]

Jeez, that was quick :)

[vulcan]

Hopefully it will get better.
http://optics.org/news/2/12/21

[New Judge]

Yes, EvianBaby is quite correct.

Many road "accidents" do result in prosecution of one or more of the parties involved. Those prosecutions cannot succeed if precise details of the incident are not gathered at the time of the event. Some of the prosecutions are for serious offences which result in lengthy periods of custody and some of the civil litigation that often follows can involve tens of thousands of pounds in compo. For these matters to be dealt with fairly all the details must be available.

Your description of the M62 is a little flippant:

and it wasn't even life threatening, [how do you know?] it was only a shunt, a motor cyclist taken to hospital but he was fine, [how do you know] that's it.

Very often what seem to be trivial injuries turn into something much more serious. Some of the driving I have witnessed, especially on motorways, is downright criminal and warrants severe punishment and it's a pity that it is usually only detected when a collision occurs.

Ys, it's certainly a bind when you're held up seemingly for nothing, but it is usually necessary in order that the facts are properly established.

[Bazile]

Investigations have to be carried out and evidence gathered of the Locus - especially if there might be possible prosecutions .

[TWR]

Be on your guard Dave,this could happen to you or one of your family.

[Toureman]

The main priority is to clear the road and get traffic moving again!

and then deal with the seriously injured or dead!

I don't think you would like that if it happened to you!

[susanxx]

Sadly I have witnessed many road accidents over the years(no, I'm not a PC or paramedic, just unfortunate). But the most recent was an horrific fatality that occurred around 1.00pm. It was on a dual carriageway, involved one car and a young girl pedestrian. Over 3 hours later the police where still there measuring, discussing, picture taking etc and they were also trying to replicate the conditions, especially the speed the car was travelling which involved continually hearing the screeching of the brakes. Nothing about any accident can be considered so flippant. I lost half a stone in the 7 days after witnessing the accident as I couldn't get the images out of my mind and also the sheer frustrating at being unable to do anything to help the young girl. Take care behind the wheel, be aware of your surroundings and other road users and be as safe as you can be. You have to jump through hoops to get a gun licence, but its relatively easy to get a driving licence. They are both lethal weapons.