How Long Before Tragedy With This Monumentally Stupid Idea?

[ToraToraTora]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-40473727
No hard shoulder? madness.

[237SJ]

I have driven down it. I couldn't help wondering what would happen if someone broke down. I think it's a trial at the moment but it is an example of how to solve traffic problems at the expense of safety.

[albaqwerty]

a smart motorway eh?
when are the smart motorists going to arrive?

[Buenchico]

The M25 already has no hard shoulder for much of its length. When vehicles break down they're quickly spotted by staff monitoring the cameras, with the overhead gantries then showing lane closures and reduced speed limits. It works surprisingly well.

[TWR]

That's until someone gets killed / injured Chico, & it will happen.

[Islay]

Its a great idea until you get HGV drivers driving like A they are morons or B they own the road!

[albaqwerty]

or C, both :-D

[Islay]

lol Alba I forgot C tsk

[237SJ]

The problem (from what I could see) is when people come steaming off the M25 (clockwise). Luckily for me, I tend to be going towards Central London but if you are going down the M3 towards the SW and you encounter a broken down vehicle you have "had it"

[TWR]

That normally happens when you get people that don't know what they are doing 237.

[Old_Geezer]

Never been a fan. Even if a breakdown is spotted quickly it is already a danger. One can not get out of the way before having to stop; and there are fast moving vehicles all around. It's a penny pinching failure to spend on the right things. A bit like skimping on flat cladding really. Save a few £££s now, and later learn lessons for the future.

[TWR]

OG, There's more deaths on the hard shoulder than any other section of a Motorway.

[EcclesCake]

Could you substantiate that assertion TWR?

With evidence, not just your opinion?

[Old_Geezer]

You ought not be driving on it then !
Still that'll change when there are no more hard shoulders.

[TWR]

19.41, Check it out.

[EcclesCake]

No, I would you like you to provide the hard evidence for your claim.

[Islay]

//Motorways are still the safest of any road type, but motoring groups said the rise in casualties could reflect a lack of police to deter bad driving, or a growing volume of vehicles. //

[sunny-dave]

What is it with you London centric people ... this is not a new idea ... just new to you.

The system has been working extremely well on the M42 (busier than the M25 in some parts) for years now, without the carnage that you seem to be predicting. It has reduced hold-ups, improved average journey times and been (once people got used to the fact that you really do have to do what the signs tell you) a howling success. The only time people grumble now is when the road reverts to the old "three lane plus hard shoulder" set-up for some reason.

[New Judge]

The biggest potential for tragedy is the possibility of emergency vehicles being unable to reach the scene of an incident. With all lanes in use any incident which blocks all the lanes (and they do happen) means that all lanes prior to the site of the incident will also be blocked. It's a lunatic idea. I have already been on the southern stretch of the M25 when all four lanes have been blocked and it has taken an age for a Highways Agency vehicle to reach the scene.

[237SJ]

Of course there is a lack of police to deter bad driving on motorways. I`m surprised it takes a think tank to come up with that conclusion

[EcclesCake]

Don't introduce sense to the thread Dave.......