Driving on the hard shoulder

[Skiddley]

I drive the 42 regularly and its pants. They lower the limit to 50 when its in operation...surely if they just up the limit a little and maintain the normal lanage this will have the same effect on road capacity

And as someone else mentioned, I never drive in the hard shoulder on the 42 as it's always covered in crap. Stonechips ahoy.

 

[Tom|Nbk]

I drive the 42 regularly and its pants. They lower the limit to 50 when its in operation...surely if they just up the limit a little and maintain the normal lanage this will have the same effect on road capacity

And as someone else mentioned, I never drive in the hard shoulder on the 42 as it's always covered in crap. Stonechips ahoy.

Yep filthy, I've seen all sorts chucked on there.

 

[therealnerd2]

...surely if they just up the limit a little and maintain the normal lanage this will have the same effect on road capacity

Naa, the speed limit increases traffic flow.

 

[CaPtBlaCk]

I drove on the M42, from 3a onwards every day for 6 months in the morning and the evening during both rush hours - the scheme works.

Never seen any of these mystic piled ups that everyone (who coincidently lives no where near the M42 3a - 6) on here seems to think will happen.

I was told that the cameras are activated randomly, my uncles X-Type was caught speeding on the stretch when it was stolen.

Nobody appears to be taking any notice of you!

I use it virtually every working day, in rush hour and can see first hand that it is safe, easy to use and best of all you get no stop/start driving as happens else where. Cruising at 50mph is great after the torment this stretch used to offer!

As with the media coverage today, folks just like to moan without knowing the facts or experiencing it first hand......

 

[CaPtBlaCk]

What are you supposed to do if you do actualy have a serious break down on a motorway with the hard shoulder full of traffic? Stay in your current lane and just stop the traffic, or barge your way into the hard shoulder using whatever momentum you have left and stop all the traffic in that lane?

Well one year trial, over 5000+ vehicles an hour at peak times and there has been no major incidents!?

There are plenty of 'refuges' and patrols by the Highways Agency which seem to do the trick, still lets shelve the whole project just in case....

 

[Dogbreath]

I use it virtually every working day, in rush hour and can see first hand that it is safe, easy to use and best of all you get no stop/start driving as happens else where.

Has your car suffered a serious breakdown or failure that required you to stop as quickly as possible whilst this scheme was in operation?

Maybe it is totaly safe, and people are worried about nothing, but I'd like to hear at least a few M42 users say "I suffered a blowout whilst the hard shoulder was full of traffic and everything was fine"

 

[MoNkeE]

My brother is a Highways officer, and I have not spoken to him about it yet, but im sure that he will not like the idea!

His job is already dangerous enough with the hardshoulder, without it, its fear it will be far worse. I personally wont be supporting this if he does not!

He has far more experience than me in these matters, so i bow to his judgement! Will report back when i know it

From what I've seen of Highways Officer's, they're a danger to themselves! I've seen Highways Officers walking with the back to the traffic on a live carriage way, waving traffic on with the hands WHILST walking in to the lane! Sheer lunatics!

-RaZ

 

[MoNkeE]

Hmm, having read the whole thread - I don't think a single person who actually USES the road has a bad thing to say about using the hard-shoulder as a fully-fledged lane!

Also, to all those complaining of debris etc - call the Highways Agency! Whilst they'll be numerous patrols a day to clear debris, it's also created by random motorists! Report it in and they can get a chance to remove it if it really is that dangerous

-RaZ

 

[Dogbreath]

Also, to all those complaining of debris etc - call the Highways Agency! Whilst they'll be numerous patrols a day to clear debris, it's also created by random motorists! Report it in and they can get a chance to remove it if it really is that dangerous

But don't use your phone unless you have a properly installed handsfree kit rather than a bluetooth headset!

 

[Tom|Nbk]

Hmm, having read the whole thread - I don't think a single person who actually USES the road has a bad thing to say about using the hard-shoulder as a fully-fledged lane!

Also, to all those complaining of debris etc - call the Highways Agency! Whilst they'll be numerous patrols a day to clear debris, it's also created by random motorists! Report it in and they can get a chance to remove it if it really is that dangerous

-RaZ

Never thought of that will do so in the future.

 

[CaPtBlaCk]

Has your car suffered a serious breakdown or failure that required you to stop as quickly as possible whilst this scheme was in operation?

Maybe it is totaly safe, and people are worried about nothing, but I'd like to hear at least a few M42 users say "I suffered a blowout whilst the hard shoulder was full of traffic and everything was fine"

No, not personally, but the people who ran the scheme for one whole year are on record as saying no major incidents and less accidents than before.

Is that not enough evidence?

 

[BigglesPiP]

If I'm in in one of these situations and I get a puncture, I shall stop there and then to swap it, if my oil light comes on, I shall stop there and then and arrange a tow/pick-up.

And there is nothing those "Dayglow Wombles" in their black and yellow battenburgs can do about it.

 

[SDK^]

Breakdowns are not a problem - there are large pull in laybys every 500 yards, with a phone and CCTV monitoring each one.

See photo

 

[CaPtBlaCk]

If I'm in in one of these situations and I get a puncture, I shall stop there and then to swap it, if my oil light comes on, I shall stop there and then and arrange a tow/pick-up.

And there is nothing those "Dayglow Wombles" in their black and yellow battenburgs can do about it.

Nice constructive post, thank you for taking the time....

 

[Jonnycoupe]

Hmm, having read the whole thread - I don't think a single person who actually USES the road has a bad thing to say about using the hard-shoulder as a fully-fledged lane!

Agreed, I think its great. Although thats helped by the urban nature of the M42 with its frequent junctions so no sure how well it will roll out to other major roads.

 

[Pen66]

Just wait till winter when breakdowns increase and will further increase due to the amount of traffic on the roads.

 

[Jonnycoupe]

Just wait till winter when breakdowns increase and will further increase due to the amount of traffic on the roads.

Oh no, the motorway will revert to its 2006 spec and function exactly the same as it does now.

 

[tb2000]

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.

I've seen plenty of people on the motorway on the hard-shoulder. I must see at least 3 or 4 people every time I use one.
My dad has used the hard shoulder a couple of times in the past few years at least.

 

[DannyDan]

I've seen plenty of people on the motorway on the hard-shoulder. I must see at least 3 or 4 people every time I use one.
My dad has used the hard shoulder a couple of times in the past few years at least.

That doesnt mean that everyone you see on the hard shoulder couldn't have waited a short while before pulling over.

 

[tb2000]

That doesnt mean that everyone you see on the hard shoulder couldn't have waited a short while before pulling over.

Not necessarily, no. But most of the ones you see have their bonnets up meaning they probably pulled off fairly quickly.
The times when my dad used it was because of a tyre problem (front tyre lost it's tread, then the spare got a puncture and had a blow out!), and second time was the vehicle started to overheat as it had a water leak.