M60 Smart Motorway
- Thread starter kinetic747
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"doesnt" needs an apostrophe.Really? So if a car is overtaking two side-by-side lorries at say 65mph, that doesnt cause a delay for the rest of the traffic which is moving at 70-80? Nope, this actually happens a lot.
Plus, it's 'you're' not 'your'.
Just playing devils advocate here, as I'm no lover of smart motorways (especially removing hard shoulders), but do you not think that the fact that you're not seeing traffic means they are working, in this situation?
I see this complaint often, "smart motorway slowed everyone down for nothing", and I agree it's frustrating to experience. But surely the whole point of them is to slow traffic well in advance of whatever "incident" is occurring to create a smoother traffic flow overall. It's annoying, because we expect to see speed limits only when there's a problem, but it might well be more efficient to slow down to 50MPH well in advance of the "incident" (even miles in advance), so you never actually have to stop because of it, or before traffic builds up as a result of it.
With regards to the main theme of the thread though, I too think that the removal of the hard shoulder is silly. Especially given that "keep left unless overtaking" seems to be a mystery to the average UK driver anyway.
Quite.
If drivers could control their gonads and apply sensible levels of braking distance, phantom jams would mostly be eliminated.
Unfortunately, we have too many with the mentality of your average Audi driver.
The only solution as I see it it autonomous cars, when driver ego can hopefully be taken off the table.
I'm actually quite a fan of smart motorways. Although only the all-lane running ones, i don't see the point in some sections where they've upgraded it to 4 lanes, yet only ever open the 4th lane during peak times.
The M5 J4-J6 (albeit the current lane closures) normally works very well, and having gantries with variable speed limits does help keep the traffic flowing.
The only thing that annoys me is how long they take to build. The M6 J16-19 is close to opening, and they've just started works on the M6 J13-15 which will take 4 years to convert a measly 17.5 miles, that works out to be about a mile of road every 3 months!
The M5 J4-J6 (albeit the current lane closures) normally works very well, and having gantries with variable speed limits does help keep the traffic flowing.
The only thing that annoys me is how long they take to build. The M6 J16-19 is close to opening, and they've just started works on the M6 J13-15 which will take 4 years to convert a measly 17.5 miles, that works out to be about a mile of road every 3 months!
You do know that speed limits are posted early to slow traffic that’s heading towards slower traffic / congestion don’t you?
I agree entirely that you will see limits posted on gantrys on an apparently clear motorway,but, within a few miles your at the back of a queue- predominantly caused by people ignoring the posted limit and just bunching up.
Smart motorways work well so long as those using them are smart also which, alas, they generally aren’t.
I know, but I've never actually seen any of the congestion
Though I guess that is the whole idea!I see it daily, if the limit signs are on at say Toddington services (M1 Jct 12) you can guarantee your sat in a queue by the time you’ve got to the A505 exit at Luton (Jct 11)I know, but I've never actually seen any of the congestion
I think all those moaning about smart motorways should go and have a look at google maps traffic for LA in rush hour. Some of those highways are an 12+ lane car parks.
Smart motorways are a cost effective way of increasing capacity during peek times. Some motorways simply cannot be widened anymore without significantly rerouting them.
Smart motorways are a cost effective way of increasing capacity during peek times. Some motorways simply cannot be widened anymore without significantly rerouting them.
They should have made all the cameras front facing.
At least then those of us on bikes who don't contribute to congestion could have just kept to our speed.
Also like said above if you don't know which ones actually have the camera in busy traffic slowing to 40 while everyone local flies past you at 70 plus on both sides because you can't move over is a harrowing experience
At least then those of us on bikes who don't contribute to congestion could have just kept to our speed.
Also like said above if you don't know which ones actually have the camera in busy traffic slowing to 40 while everyone local flies past you at 70 plus on both sides because you can't move over is a harrowing experience
I'm sure this will get a load of 'its just you' replies but... does anyone else find the design of the gantry signs quite hard to make out at a distance? I've got pretty much spot on vision according to a recent eye test (I'm a tad long sighted if anything) and I struggle to determine if the first digit is a 4,5 or 6 at times when the gantry is in the distance which means I have to feather the brakes once I know what the limit is rather than being able to coast down to it (obviously less so when its a 50 and never with a 60).
Smart motorways are awful, speed limits in place for no reason and as said above it's very dangerous without the hard shoulder. When someone does breakdown the traffic jam it causes now is huge.
Also moron drivers can't deal with 3 lanes, give them 3 and middle lane hoggers become lane 3 hogs.
Also, are HGV's allowed in lane 3 when there are 4 lanes? Because I've seen a few times now where the trucks are 3 abreast.
**** this **** smart motorways ********!
Also moron drivers can't deal with 3 lanes, give them 3 and middle lane hoggers become lane 3 hogs.
Also, are HGV's allowed in lane 3 when there are 4 lanes? Because I've seen a few times now where the trucks are 3 abreast.
**** this **** smart motorways ********!
It's not "Lane 3" Specific.
It's outside lane on 3 or more lane Motorways.
It's also confused with A roads. For example last night I used lane four over the Dartford crossing because a car was slowing up more than me climbing the hill.
That section of the M25 actually ISN'T the M25 but is actually the A282 and trucks can use any lane !
Personally, I'd like to see large underground rail systems built for hauling goods back and forth. A HGV drives to the warehouse, loads goods, drives to rail depot, gets on the train, train leaves for another city on the other side of the country, HGV gets off and delivers to location. I know there's the expense but it would take a lot of goods vehicles off the road and increase delivery speed. 
Personally, I'd like to see large underground rail systems built for hauling goods back and forth. A HGV drives to the warehouse, loads goods, drives to rail depot, gets on the train, train leaves for another city on the other side of the country, HGV gets off and delivers to location. I know there's the expense but it would take a lot of goods vehicles off the road and increase delivery speed.
"Rolling motorways" the concept is called. A great idea
https://www.sncf.com/sncv1/en/freight/news/rolling-motorway
Doesn't have to be underground, but the concept it still sound. It's basically roll-on, roll-off, but with trains instead of ferries. It would make sense in a country like this. Lorries could roll off the ferry at Dover, then straight onto a train headed north and disembark at key points along the way to finish the journey by road to the discharge point.