Not So Smart Motorways

planenut · 1st June 2018, 11:42

Sadly this crash occurred because the hard shoulder on this smart motorway was in use as a live lane - nowhere to escape for this family.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-44329223
The crash occurred within thirty seconds of the car stopping.

AndyN01 · 1st June 2018, 12:14

Living in Tamworth with the M42 nearby which, as far as I know, was used as the "Trial" for using the hard shoulder as running lane I'm very sadly not surprised.

Desperately sorry for those involved but common sense saw it coming a long time ago.

Was there a lane closure indicated?

If so, what happened to make the lorry driver ignore it?

Maybe he's been through miles and miles of closures with nothing happening and absolutely no reason for the lane closure? I've posted elsewhere about crying wolf.

I've been hunting for the Smart motorway protocols for changing speed limits/closing lanes etc. etc. for some time and guess what.....

I've drawn a complete blank. Nothing anywhere in the public domain that I've been able to find.

Maybe it's time to see them published so we can all understand the process and use that information in our driving?

Thoughts are with the family for their loss in such tragic circumstances.

Andy.

planenut · 1st June 2018, 12:19

From what I understand, things happened almost instantly, before the closure could be operated, in less that one minute.

MSS · 1st June 2018, 13:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by planenut

Sadly this crash occurred because the hard shoulder on this smart motorway was in use as a live lane - nowhere to escape for this family.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-44329223
The crash occurred within thirty seconds of the car stopping.

I've not seen anything reported that connects the incident with this stretch of the M6 being a smart motorway. Do you have a link to the information?

Could this be a tragic case of lorry driving into a stationary car, which could occur on any high-speed road if the driver of the second vehicle is unable to stop in the distance he/she can see to be clear?

planenut · 1st June 2018, 14:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by mss

I've not seen anything reported that connects the incident with this stretch of the M6 being a smart motorway. Do you have a link to the information?

No further link than that originally given.

Snetty · 1st June 2018, 16:56

Smart motorways are a cheap way of increasing the capacity of tge motorway network on the cheap. This particular sttetch is elevated leaving nowhere for stranded motorists to safely stand aeay from the vehicle.
Terribly sad and hopefully will stop this flawed concept.

Mr bountyfull · 1st June 2018, 17:14

So sad and as said is a certainty to have from time to time.

I also think this creative and economical use of the inside lane may not be that economical compared to doing a proper job. The delays incurred to the life blood of the UK (roads) is a major factor in the UK PLC's poor productivity and taking a holistic costing may have proved this to be a very poor concept.

breakfastinsmethwick · 1st June 2018, 17:18

I have been told that the signs and speeds are controlled by an algorithm. I drive this area all the time in peak hrs and it seems to make bizarre decisions but of course I cannot see the whole picture.

The use of the hard shoulder seems like the kind of decision the boss of the worst budget airline would make.

macafee2 · 1st June 2018, 18:23

cant recall which motorway but the signs say "congestion use hard shoulder", next sign says "use hard shoulder for next exit only". Having moved from lane one to hard shoulder I now have to move back. This I consider dangerous, could be m42 or m1

macaffe2

AndyN01 · 1st June 2018, 21:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by macafee2

cant recall which motorway but the signs say "congestion use hard shoulder", next sign says "use hard shoulder for next exit only". Having moved from lane one to hard shoulder I now have to move back. This I consider dangerous, could be m42 or m1

macaffe2

That's the M42. I've seen it today.

Just stupidly dangerous.

Andy

1st June 2018, 11:42	#1
planenut motorvatin Rover 1.8T Tourer Join Date: May 2007 Location: Heathrow Posts: 5,931 Thanks: 1,330 Thanked 1,728 Times in 1,139 Posts	Not So Smart Motorways Sadly this crash occurred because the hard shoulder on this smart motorway was in use as a live lane - nowhere to escape for this family. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-44329223 The crash occurred within thirty seconds of the car stopping.

1st June 2018, 12:14	#2
AndyN01 I really should get out more....... Rover 75 diesel tourer Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Tamworth Posts: 2,504 Thanks: 2,066 Thanked 1,227 Times in 788 Posts	Living in Tamworth with the M42 nearby which, as far as I know, was used as the "Trial" for using the hard shoulder as running lane I'm very sadly not surprised. Desperately sorry for those involved but common sense saw it coming a long time ago. Was there a lane closure indicated? If so, what happened to make the lorry driver ignore it? Maybe he's been through miles and miles of closures with nothing happening and absolutely no reason for the lane closure? I've posted elsewhere about crying wolf. I've been hunting for the Smart motorway protocols for changing speed limits/closing lanes etc. etc. for some time and guess what..... I've drawn a complete blank. Nothing anywhere in the public domain that I've been able to find. Maybe it's time to see them published so we can all understand the process and use that information in our driving? Thoughts are with the family for their loss in such tragic circumstances. Andy. __________________ Andy. My BRG Conny SE Tourer was born on Thursday, 17th October 2002

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1st June 2018, 12:19	#3
planenut motorvatin Rover 1.8T Tourer Join Date: May 2007 Location: Heathrow Posts: 5,931 Thanks: 1,330 Thanked 1,728 Times in 1,139 Posts	From what I understand, things happened almost instantly, before the closure could be operated, in less that one minute.

1st June 2018, 16:56	#6
Snetty Posted a thing or two Rover 75 Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Ingoldisthorpe Posts: 1,110 Thanks: 729 Thanked 405 Times in 271 Posts	Smart motorways are a cheap way of increasing the capacity of tge motorway network on the cheap. This particular sttetch is elevated leaving nowhere for stranded motorists to safely stand aeay from the vehicle. Terribly sad and hopefully will stop this flawed concept.

1st June 2018, 17:14	#7
Mr bountyfull Gets stuck in MGZTV8 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Newbury Posts: 538 Thanks: 159 Thanked 77 Times in 54 Posts	So sad and as said is a certainty to have from time to time. I also think this creative and economical use of the inside lane may not be that economical compared to doing a proper job. The delays incurred to the life blood of the UK (roads) is a major factor in the UK PLC's poor productivity and taking a holistic costing may have proved this to be a very poor concept.

1st June 2018, 17:18	#8
breakfastinsmethwick Gets stuck in Maintainer of sons ZT M47r Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Shropshire Posts: 619 Thanks: 605 Thanked 123 Times in 99 Posts	I have been told that the signs and speeds are controlled by an algorithm. I drive this area all the time in peak hrs and it seems to make bizarre decisions but of course I cannot see the whole picture. The use of the hard shoulder seems like the kind of decision the boss of the worst budget airline would make.

1st June 2018, 18:23	#9
macafee2 This is my second home Rover 75 Saloon & Tourer Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Lincoln Posts: 12,717 Thanks: 1,456 Thanked 2,754 Times in 1,957 Posts	cant recall which motorway but the signs say "congestion use hard shoulder", next sign says "use hard shoulder for next exit only". Having moved from lane one to hard shoulder I now have to move back. This I consider dangerous, could be m42 or m1 macaffe2