|
||
|
18th January 2021, 20:28 | #1 |
This is my second home
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 5,428
Thanks: 3,123
Thanked 3,170 Times in 2,096 Posts
|
Coroner calls for review of Smart Motorways
An inquest heard that the deaths of two men could have been avoided.
The accident was on the M1 June 7th 2019. Coroner David Urpeth said Smart Motorways without a hard shoulder carry “an ongoing risk of future deaths”. Sgt Mark Brady, who oversees major collision investigations for South Yorkshire Police told the hearing “Had there been a hard shoulder, had Jason and Alexandru pulled onto a hard shoulder, my opinion is that Mr Szuba would have driven clean past them.” Let’s hope something comes of this tragedy. |
18th January 2021, 20:59 | #2 |
This is my second home
Rover 75 tourer Club CD/Limo Tints Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Meneac
Posts: 6,759
Thanks: 5,007
Thanked 1,609 Times in 869 Posts
|
Whoever thought up the Idea of "Smart Motorways" should be held culpable for the deaths of these people. As said "If there had been a hard shoulder the driver would have driven past them"
__________________
] "I started out with nothing, and Ive still got most of it left!" |
18th January 2021, 22:15 | #3 |
Avid contributor
Rover 75 saloon Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: Skelmersdale
Posts: 181
Thanks: 15
Thanked 49 Times in 42 Posts
|
Smart motorways should be stopped immediately . The hard shoulder should be reinstated .
They are death by design. The idea is fine but the camera systems at the moment are not effective coupled with the gantry systems are so far apart to warn of lane change restrictions . Every time I use a ( smart motorway ) I reduce my speed . Look at my guages and take note of where the next safe lay-by is located .
__________________
Changed everything that needs changing and everything that didn't . It's called preventive maintenance. |
19th January 2021, 07:05 | #4 |
Regional Secretary
Rover 1.8T Tourer Join Date: May 2007
Location: Heathrow
Posts: 6,955
Thanks: 1,551
Thanked 2,036 Times in 1,264 Posts
|
If a driver stops a vehicle in any position on any road, it is the responsibility of every other driver to drive their vehicle safely and avoid it. If a lump of concrete were placed on a road and someone drove into it they would be in the wrong, why does it become the fault of someone not there if an accident occurs?
It is very sad that anybody loses their life or is injured or affected by loss and I personally think that the idea of "smart motorways" is stupidly ludicrous. The idea of this type of road layout is to accommodate the amount of traffic on the roads, but this introduces dangerous safety practices reliant on the abilities of all drivers, and those standards are lowering. When the inevitable accident occurs, though the onus is on the driver, someone else will be blamed. My own opinion. |
19th January 2021, 07:15 | #5 |
MG ZT Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Newcastle Upon Tyne
Posts: 20,151
Thanks: 3,565
Thanked 10,837 Times in 5,718 Posts
|
Having recently driven on a smart motorway, and there is nothing smart about having no hard shoulder when your car suddenly loses power and speed reduced to a crawl.
It was fortunate there was a service area about two miles up the road, but travelling at a maximum speed of 45mph on a live motorway with no hard shoulder was a disaster waiting to happen They should be reverted to design as soon as possible. Brian |
19th January 2021, 07:31 | #6 |
Avid contributor
Thinking on Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Madeley, Staffs
Posts: 188
Thanks: 31
Thanked 37 Times in 25 Posts
|
18 months ago we were driving north on the newly 'smarted' M6 between Holmes Chapel and Knutsford. We were in lane three of four in medium level traffic doing about 70mph.
Suddenly I became aware of dust and smoke about 4 or 5 vehicles ahead in Lane 2 and at the same time the smell of burning rubber entered to car. A large white vehicle up ahead veered from Lane 2 to lane 1 and luckily made it there without hitting anything as HGV's took emergency avoiding action. As we passed the stricken motorhome I could see, out of the corner of my eye, that the offside rear tyre was shredded and flailing against the bodywork and already there were signs of smoke coming from the wheel arch. It was another three quarters of a mile to the next refuge. Three days later we did the return trip and as we passed that refuge we saw a large burnt patch on the new tarmac, plus a big area of burnt grass. Checking on the local news website the driver had decided to drive on, in anticipation of a refuge appearing and not wanting to risk stopping and being smashed into. By the time he reached the refuge the rear of the motorhome was well alight and was burnt out in the refuge. Luckily the driver and his three passengers escaped unharmed but it must've been a close thing.
__________________
Morris 8 S2 Convertible, Fiat 500C Topolino, 105E Anglia, 1071 Austin Cooper S, MK 3 Cortina, Mk 2 Escorts, Renault 6, Renault 12, Maestro, Talbot Alpine, Citroen BX19, Vauxhall Carltons, Ford Mondeos, RAV4, Volvo 850, Octavia Est., Yaris Verso, Transit Camper, Adria motorhome, Kia Sorento, Kia Cee'd Est., Volvo V70, Yeti, Skoda Scala but where will it end? |
19th January 2021, 09:16 | #7 |
I really should get out more.......
MG ZT-T 260 Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Witney
Posts: 2,504
Thanks: 6
Thanked 910 Times in 571 Posts
|
Having been in a car that broke down on a smart motorway I can say it is a scary experience. The car just died and as much as I could do it would not restart. I managed to get 2 wheels on the drainage channel but half of the car was still in the carriageway. Several vehicles including HGV's had to take avoiding action but luckily after 10 mins a Traffic Safety Officer arrived and towed us to the first pull in. Oddly the car restarted when the RAC arrived 30 mins later.
My wife was so upset she refuses to drive on a motorway now. |
19th January 2021, 09:38 | #8 |
Coolguy
Rover 75 CDT Tourer Auto, Rover 75 2.0 Connoisseur Auto, MG ZT 2.5 Auto and MG ZT Cdti Auto (Monogra Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Finedon
Posts: 1,897
Thanks: 933
Thanked 638 Times in 430 Posts
|
No motorway can be smart - they are inanimate objects, and lethal ones at that. A previous post of mine instanced that parts of the new A14 improvements are in areas where there is no phone coverage, including the ones provided at rescue areas, as confirmed by a Highways Officer I chatted to at Cambridge Services after I had a problem. Unbelievable!
In addition, modern cars simply pack up without warning, unlike older ones which used to give warnings over many miles and could generally soldier on until safety was reached. |
19th January 2021, 10:21 | #9 |
Moderator/Club Shop
MG ZT 1.8t+. No.3 of 4 in Sunspot Yellow & Ford Fiesta in Black. Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Rattler Farm
Posts: 22,565
Thanks: 9,270
Thanked 15,645 Times in 6,806 Posts
|
I also have broken down on a smart motorway back in 2019. I have never been so frightened in my life. Hazards on but not able to re-start the car, Banana being the car. I finally managed to get out and over the barrier. Phoned the police and recovery. The Traffic Enforcement Agency were the first to arrive. The parked at an angle about 50 yards back. The passenger got out to make sure I was ok. He calmed me down and gave me a bottle of water to drink.
Then the police arrived and proceeded to block of the next lane across. Finally a recovery vehicle got to me and we was winched on board. The amount of abuse the TEA and Police officers got from passing motorists was unbelievable. But they said it was the norm.
__________________
233,431. That’s our second meet done, no.3 next weekend. onen hag oll |
19th January 2021, 11:22 | #10 |
Precise
Rover 75 Tourer 2.5KV6 Connoisseur SE Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Fleet
Posts: 2,954
Thanks: 630
Thanked 617 Times in 480 Posts
|
It is bad enough breaking down or having a puncture on an ordinary motorway, on a so called smart motorway it must be horrifying.
Having said that, they do appear to give small benefit (for now) due to the greater capacity but at what human cost? |
|
|