Driving on the hard shoulder

Azagoth

Azagoth

Azagoth

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/7060423.stm

According to the government this is soon to be rolled out Nationwide. Now, I don't know if it's only me, but what happens if someone has the audacity to breakdown and can't actually make it to one of these new-fangled 'Refuge Areas'?

Let's say for instance the car just seizes and you manage somehow to just coast onto the hard shoulder, how are you going to prevent someone from slamming into your arse-end, or even worse serving out into the next lane and causing a pile-up?

Just seems like a badly thought out, and quite frankly, idiotic scheme to me!
 
I initially thought the same as well. But then I got wondernig.

Hands up everyone here who has had cause to immediatly pull over and stop on the hard shoulder of the Motorway in the last 5 years.
 
*Raises Hand*

Although, I was in the passenger seat and therefore not driving. However, we did have to swerve across two lanes of traffic with flames leaping from the bonnet. :eek:
 
Call me thick.....if it's in the story....but how does that work when you come to a slip road? (assuming all motorists are the type that i see and dont move into the first lane)
 
Seem's insane to me. I guess building another lane on every major UK motorway would cost too much so they chose the cheaper more unsafe option. :confused:

On that note, 7k post's :(
 
It's not insane, it's a good idea. I can't believe it's worked so well on M42 as when I'm on it which is often hardly anyone uses it. I do though, end up beating all the traffic, some people are too stupid to realise it was done to create another lane between junctions and it now becomes the new left hand lane.

So everyone in the normal left hand lane are now lane hogs.

No bother to me though, I just cruise past at a nice 50mph :)
 
Mekrel said:
It's not insane, it's a good idea. I can't believe it's worked so well on M42 as when I'm on it which is often hardly anyone uses it. I do though, end up beating all the traffic, some people are too stupid to realise it was done to create another lane between junctions and it now becomes the new left hand lane.

So everyone in the normal left hand lane are now lane hogs.

No bother to me though, I just cruise past at a nice 50mph :)
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Im sure you'd not feel the same if you broke down a mile or so before refuge only to wait longer than normal for the recovery monkeys and then perhaps have clueless Bernard from Poland wipe you out in his 5+ ton articulate before they even get there.

The only reason it's worked on the M42 as this is only one of the many major UK motorways, I suspect the accident rate would obviously increase should this be deployed nationally.
 
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I love this forum, of course, this is where all Mensa members congregate and know more than anyone.

If it was a stupid idea, the M42 trial would not have worked and the plan would not be rolled out nation wide.

BBC News said:
Transport correspondent Peter Plisner said figures showed the motorway was safer at these times.
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What's to stop any motorist ploughing into the back of you in any lane, on any road? You can't argue facts and figures.
 
So, the only possible place for a stricken car to safely pull up as been taken away, bar some petty "Oh crap, we didn't think this through properly spur of the moment 'Refuge Areas'". If you break down now you may as well just coast to a halt in the fast-lane if that's where your car goes wonky.

I want to know whose responsibility it is if you break down, pull onto the hard-shoulder like the Highway Code says to and then some 7-seat family wagon ploughs straight into the back of your stationary car at 60 and wipes out Mum, Dad and three kids, and no doubt causes a major pile-up if it's a busy time of day.
 
[TW]Fox;10346519 said:
I initially thought the same as well. But then I got wondernig.

Hands up everyone here who has had cause to immediatly pull over and stop on the hard shoulder of the Motorway in the last 5 years.
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*ME*

Oh a police car pulling me over doesn't count no :confused::p

I've run out of fuel before, yes my fault, so unless your car cuts out and won't start then i guess you're **** out of luck.

Plus what about all the crap that's thrown onto the hard shoulder, no doubt more punctures for them then...
 
[TW]Fox;10346519 said:
I initially thought the same as well. But then I got wondernig.

Hands up everyone here who has had cause to immediatly pull over and stop on the hard shoulder of the Motorway in the last 5 years.
Click to expand...

ME!

Inner arch liner fell off my Saxo after Citroen repaired it shoddily. Wrapped itself around the nearside front wheel. I had little choice but to follow the car's trajectory and stop on the hard shoulder.
 
[TW]Fox;10346519 said:
I initially thought the same as well. But then I got wondernig.

Hands up everyone here who has had cause to immediatly pull over and stop on the hard shoulder of the Motorway in the last 5 years.
Click to expand...

I drive 40 miles on the M11 every day and there are always broken down cars on the hard shoulder pulled over. I'd say thats pretty much everyday.

They probably pulled over carefully but thats still a lane that would then cause massive issues for the rest of the traffic as they filter into the next lane.
 
I assume the hard shoulder is still not to be used if traffic is flowing freely? It would be nuts if it were made just another lane, surely?
 
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Well we've lived with this system for a couple of years on the M42 now and it does seem to work well at congested times.

What concerns me most isn't someone stopping on the hard shoulder but what happens if all four lanes are blocked and the emergency services need to get through.
 
As much as it pains me to say, it does work quite well on the m42, it certainly keeps traffic moving. The hard shoulder is only open during heavy congestion and is controlled by the over head signs. The lanes are monitored by CCTV so any obstructions, and the lane is closed with signs warning of the incident up ahead. Just be prepared for the 2 years of road works and traffic jams whilst they complete the construction work.
 
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