Drive on hard shoulder

mkpdavies · 31-08-2006, 02:40 AM

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2006400392,00.html

Quote:

MOTORISTS are set to be allowed to drive on hard shoulders to beat traffic jams.

The measure is expected to be introduced on many of the UK’s busiest motorways.

But experts last night condemned it as dangerous — and said it would block lanes used by emergency vehicles to reach crashes.

There do this in Greece, only they do it all the time and without signs to tell them they can.

Personally I think it's a good idea, but it's painting over the cracks. We have too many people who want to drive now and unless you want to concreate over loads more greenbelt at huge expense, there is only one solution.

STOP GROWING THE POPULATION!

John Carter · 31-08-2006, 03:37 AM

Way stupid idea.

mkpdavies · 31-08-2006, 03:39 AM

It turns back into a hard shoulder for a bit.

Though they said something about bays being created too, every 500 yards.

eublues · 31-08-2006, 09:26 AM

Must be an instruction from the EU to do this - UK government not allowed (or willing) to use own initiative.

(Noticed in France/Belgium that motorways with only a very narrow hardshoulder are common.)

John Page · 31-08-2006, 09:34 AM

Sky News tells us a bit more.

Quote:

A new way to ease congestion on motorways is being introduced as a cheap alternative to road widening.

A pilot scheme on an 11-mile stretch of the M42 will allow motorists to drive on the hard shoulder when queues start to build up.

The Times said the cost of converting the hard shoulder would be £100m rather than the £500m an extra lane would cost.

It could also be implemented within two years instead of the 10 years it takes to plan and construct additional lanes, the paper says.

New lay-bys would be constructed every 500 metres as refuges for any vehicle that breaks down.

The scheme will work by means of sensors installed under the road surface which will detect when congestion is building up.

The speed limit on all carriageways will be reduced to 50mph once the hard shoulder is in use, The Times says.

The pilot scheme will be introduced next month southeast of Birmingham and the Highways Agency is said to be considering widening it to other motorways if successful.

However, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents is worried drivers will be confused by the new system.

"Experience of motorway driving demonstrates that many drivers are ignorant of many signs or choose to ignore them in an attempt to get to the front of the queue," the organisation said.

And Paul Watters of the AA Motoring Trust said: "We are concerned that drivers will develop the habit of using the hard shoulder and fail to notice when it is closed."

harryaldridge · 31-08-2006, 10:30 AM

Not really a miracle solution, but not a bad way to solve the current problem fast!

The key is is to have less people on the roads. That means better and cheaper public transport OUTSIDE of cities as well as better INSIDE cities, and generally fewer people in the country.

What i am confused about is the need for sensors under the other parts of the roads. Surely they are over-engineering the solution. All that is is needed is to have the people monitoring traffic via the cameras that are already on the motorways to be able to push a button, rather than have a complicated array of sensors determining if traffic is too much.

I am sure there is probably a reason but i cannot think of one. Somebody give me one?

John Page · 31-08-2006, 11:13 AM

Quote:

The key is is to have less people on the roads. That means better and cheaper public transport OUTSIDE of cities as well as better INSIDE cities, and generally fewer people in the country.

For most journeys public transport will never be as convenient as private transport.

George Osborne is said to be looking at taxes which penalise bad activities like pollution, and he has said you can't leave transport (including domestic flights) out of that.

kernow · 31-08-2006, 11:59 AM

When public transport picks me up at my front door at the exact time I want to travel somewhere and take me to where I want to go on the route of my choosing for the same price and time that it takes me to drive that same route, then I'll sell my car and use public transport.

John Carter · 31-08-2006, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mkpdavies

It turns back into a hard shoulder for a bit.

Though they said something about bays being created too, every 500 yards.

Yes, I've noticed how cars break down at convenient 500 yard intervals. :roll:

Quote:

Originally Posted by kernow

When public transport picks me up at my front door at the exact time I want to travel somewhere and take me to where I want to go on the route of my choosing for the same price and time that it takes me to drive that same route, then I'll sell my car and use public transport.

Don't forget the required guarantee that you aren't going to be listening to some chav's iPod and aren't going to be sitting in gum/sick/pee.

Oliver · 31-08-2006, 02:14 PM

I Thought that hard shoulder bit of the M42 was called the BA Ware lane either on account of his old banger breaking down regularly or he has politbeauro priveliges?
Wad ya say BA :?:

31-08-2006, 03:39 AM	#3 (permalink)
mkpdavies Uber Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Woking Posts: 30,615	It turns back into a hard shoulder for a bit. Though they said something about bays being created too, every 500 yards. __________________ http://brits4ronpaul.blogspot.com/ http://wokinglibertarians.blogspot.com/ http://lpuk.org My ignore list Labour, Blue Labour, Lib Dems

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31-08-2006, 03:37 AM	#2 (permalink)
John Carter Uber Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: On Sabbatical Posts: 5,110	Way stupid idea.

31-08-2006, 09:26 AM	#4 (permalink)
eublues Uber Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 2,925	Must be an instruction from the EU to do this - UK government not allowed (or willing) to use own initiative. (Noticed in France/Belgium that motorways with only a very narrow hardshoulder are common.)

31-08-2006, 10:30 AM	#6 (permalink)
harryaldridge Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: West Sussex Posts: 1,868	Not really a miracle solution, but not a bad way to solve the current problem fast! The key is is to have less people on the roads. That means better and cheaper public transport OUTSIDE of cities as well as better INSIDE cities, and generally fewer people in the country. What i am confused about is the need for sensors under the other parts of the roads. Surely they are over-engineering the solution. All that is is needed is to have the people monitoring traffic via the cameras that are already on the motorways to be able to push a button, rather than have a complicated array of sensors determining if traffic is too much. I am sure there is probably a reason but i cannot think of one. Somebody give me one?

31-08-2006, 11:59 AM	#8 (permalink)
kernow Uber Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 4,604	When public transport picks me up at my front door at the exact time I want to travel somewhere and take me to where I want to go on the route of my choosing for the same price and time that it takes me to drive that same route, then I'll sell my car and use public transport.

31-08-2006, 02:14 PM	#10 (permalink)
Oliver Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: WHITBY North Yorkshire (but my heart is in Woking) Posts: 1,061	I Thought that hard shoulder bit of the M42 was called the BA Ware lane either on account of his old banger breaking down regularly or he has politbeauro priveliges? Wad ya say BA :?: