CycleChat Investigates - Smart Motorways

[roadrash]

"Normal" means that lorries don't try to push you out of their way by flashing lights and signaling.

Wouldn't make me move until I deemed it safe to do so, they can flash all they like

 

[Drago]

@Drago

Car drivers are probably happy to be live to reach their destinations and don't care about reporting anybody.

Not me. I'm a vindictive bar steward with front and rear HD dashcams for extra vigilante effect. The more people stand up to bullies, the less likely they are to be bullied.

 

[DaveReading]

I don't like them and if I ever have the misfortune to break down on one I will abandon the vehicle and seek security on the banking as safely and quickly as humanly possible because I don't trust my fellow motorists one bit!

That's also what you should do on a conventional motorway. Never stay in your car on the hard shoulder.

 

[slowmotion]

That's also what you should do on a conventional motorway. Never stay in your car on the hard shoulder.

…….and get out of the car on the passenger side. I was once nearly sucked under the wheels of a large artic passing closely at speed.

 

[Drago]

Problem is abandoning your car while sat in a live lane is a dangerous activity, no matter which door you choose. Indeed, there is some argument for using your eyes and abandoning ship via the drivers door on a smart motorway, and thus getting to safety 5 to 10 seconds quicker than you would if you fannied about scrambling across the interior. On a hard shoulder you'll likely have the benefit of time to pith about climbing across, time you simply do not have when stationary on a live carriageway if you value your life.

And of you're my size you've zero chance of being able to climb across anyway...

 

[slowmotion]

Problem is abandoning your car while sat in a live lane is a dangerous activity, no matter which door you choose. Indeed, there is some argument for using your eyes and abandoning ship via the drivers door on a smart motorway, and thus getting to safety 5 to 10 seconds quicker than you would if you fannied about scrambling across the interior. On a hard shoulder you'll likely have the benefit of time to pith about climbing across, time you simply do not have when stationary on a live carriageway if you value your life.

And of you're my size you've zero chance of being able to climb across anyway...

Sorry. I should have been clearer. My incident happened on a genuine "outmoded" hard shoulder. It was terrifying. In a live lane, I think I'd just pray.

 

[PeteXXX]

I am led to believe that the refuges are spaced so that, if a vehicle breaks down/stops working, the driver should be able to coast along to the next available 'safe area'. The main word here is 'should'.
Tricky, methinks, if you're in the overtaking lane and have enough time to react and do so.

 

[midlife]

Have to Google but I think there are 3 refuges per mile?

 

[Moodyman]

In a recent review it was concluded that Smart motorways are too 'smart' for many of our road users. People just couldn't process the constantly changing instructions and speed restrictions. Coupled with peoples' lack of foresight and planning, you get lots of sudden breaking and lane changing.

 

[Dave7]

I/we cannot understand the logic (or lack of). First time we used one.....the first question was...."what if you break down"?
Some d*ck head has been paid megabucks to come up with that death trap idea.

 

[Drago]

Whoever came up with the idea should be forced to drive an elderly Chevette up and down the motorway until it happens to them.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

By far, the stupidest idea ever. Driving back from site once, I got overtaken on the inside by a plonker in the lane stating 'A34 only' who, on approach to the A34 junction, suddenly swerved across the lanes to the right & sped off. Twonk was just undertaking everyone.

IMHO, the fools who thought of this should be made to manually by hand dig up these 'refuges' up & reinstate the hard shoulder. Utterly dumb political solution to congestion.

That is not a smart motorway thing though is it? Undertaking has always been a thing as have middle and outside lane joggers who don’t pull back to the inside lane after overtaking.

 

[bikingdad90]

I thought all smart motorways were just cashcows with speed cameras on every third or forth gantry? The M1 seems to be.

 

[DaveReading]

I am led to believe that the refuges are spaced so that, if a vehicle breaks down/stops working, the driver should be able to coast along to the next available 'safe area'. The main word here is 'should'.
Tricky, methinks, if you're in the overtaking lane and have enough time to react and do so.

Tricky? I think you mean highly unlikely.

Emergency refuge areas on smart motorways can be up to 1.5 miles apart. Good luck coasting that distance.

 

[Smudge]

The amount of people that want to come to the south west, makes the M5 near me not a smart motorway, or even a bog standard motorway..... its just a car park every summer.