Ghouls cost taxpayers £2.3 million

[Spinney]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20851775

£2.3 million to buy screens to stop traffic jams caused by rubber-neckers.

Mind you, I'm glad they're doing it. It really, really annoys me when I've sat in a traffic jam for half an hour, and it all turns out to be due to an accident on the other carriageway!

 

[Markymark]

Can't stop human nature.

 

[Garethgas]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20851775

£2.3 million to buy screens to stop traffic jams caused by rubber-neckers.

Mind you, I'm glad they're doing it. It really, really annoys me when I've sat in a traffic jam for half an hour, and it all turns out to be due to an accident on the other carriageway!

High time they did this.
They've been used in many other countries for years. Many a time I've done the same as you, sat in a jam only to find a tiny shunt with a broken tail light much to the disappointment of the rubber neckers.
It won't cure the jams but I think it will certainly help.

 

[AndyRM]

That article is two years old. Has anyone actually clocked the screens in action? I've seen a couple of accidents on the motorway, but no sign of the screens.

 

[srw]

It's not rubberneckers - it's fluid dynamics. On a busy motorway someone slowing down momentarily can set up a standing wave of slowness which will last for hours.

 

[oldfatfool]

That article is two years old. Has anyone actually clocked the screens in action? I've seen a couple of accidents on the motorway, but no sign of the screens.

Probably because they are a complete waste of time and money!!

It would take a the Great British workforce at least 24 hours to deploy and build them

 

[Cycleops]

Can't stop human nature.

It appears you can....with screens. But I don't see it happening.

 

[Markymark]

It appears you can....with screens. But I don't see it happening.

The hold-up will happen when the accident occurs and in the immediate aftermath. It will then ripple back and stay there long after the screens are put up. The screens will also slow people down as they'll still look to see what's going on.

 

[Spinney]

That article is two years old. Has anyone actually clocked the screens in action? I've seen a couple of accidents on the motorway, but no sign of the screens.

Ah - I never noticed the date! Assumed it was recent as it was in the 'most read' list on the right of the BBC website. No, never seen them in action.

 

[AndyRM]

Ah - I never noticed the date! Assumed it was recent as it was in the 'most read' list on the right of the BBC website. No, never seen them in action.

The Beeb site seems to chuck up old articles from time to time. I assume there must have been a news report recently which has piqued interest or something?

 

[Over The Hill]

Can we have some put up on the A303 past Stonehenge. Sit in a jam every time with idiot tourists slowing down and then you get past the stones and it all goes clear. 45minutes wasted!

 

[Crackle]

It's not rubberneckers - it's fluid dynamics. On a busy motorway someone slowing down momentarily can set up a standing wave of slowness which will last for hours.

Yes there was a very interesting program some time ago, showing how someone braking from 70 to 60 could halt traffic some miles back and this is what happens at accidents. People slow, as you should, which creates the jam.

 

[Markymark]

Yes there was a very interesting program some time ago, showing how someone braking from 70 to 60 could halt traffic some miles back and this is what happens at accidents. People slow, as you should, which creates the jam.

Its the abrubt change of speed that cause the problems. It's why signs promote not changing lanes as someone cutting in causing the car behind to break often givers rise to these phantom jams that seemingly occur for no reason.

One day driver-less cars that communicate with each other, have constant speed and drive closer together will massively increase motorway capacity without all the jams.

 

[glasgowcyclist]

This fellow has an interesting, if lengthy, explanation of the causes and answers to this problem which is well worth reading. I've tested it out to good effect.


GC

 

[Beebo]

Can we have some put up on the A303 past Stonehenge. Sit in a jam every time with idiot tourists slowing down and then you get past the stones and it all goes clear. 45minutes wasted!

and the pig farm, everyone slows down to look at the piggys.