Watford Bollard Gap

[fossyant]

We've some near us, but the concrete 'curbs' are about 2ft tall and take no prisoners. Not quite as tight as that, but mess it up, and you'll be tipped over with no front end ! There is another locally that's proper vicious - just like that one.

We get at least a couple of cars a year completely wrecked on the one near me (i.e. suspension ripped out or on their roof). Very entertaining.

 

[fossyant]

we rufty tufty SE Londoners

I've never heard Londoners called rufty tufty ?

 

[PeteXXX]

My Diddy Car (Hyundai i10) is ... er ... quite little. I bet I could get it through there easily.

OK I had to look it up. It's 1.68m. I don't know if that's with the ears out or folded back though.

I guess that's ears folded in. I s'pose that's why the bollards are below mirror height?

 

[Rezillo]

Hang on. That restrictor is 7' That's not anything special.

There are several 7' width restrictors near me that have been there for YEARS and we rufty tufty SE Londoners have not been wetting our pants and making videos about them. We've just been driving through (and sometimes into) them.

and some 6ft 6in ones in Suffolk that have existed for some years.

https://goo.gl/maps/YgohUp8SvshfaYmV7

https://goo.gl/maps/Xg8rwWs8dMMcemaV7

 

[PK99]

Hang on. That restrictor is 7' That's not anything special.

There are several 7' width restrictors near me that have been there for YEARS and we rufty tufty SE Londoners have not been wetting our pants and making videos about them. We've just been driving through (and sometimes into) them.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.4...4!1sGip0K830TAp8gY8Gh99kKw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.4...4!1sm7PVI34DlIP3O_Gg8dkeAg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.3...4!1sm-etPlXoKnAAFP_rvPnxjQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

We too (SW19) have 7ft restrictions. All very simple narrowing of each lane by single billiards and with prominent signage.

From my safety background, if different individuals keep suffering identical accidents a System error rather than individual error is likely.

I suspect the Watford issue is a complex road layout and complex, confusing signage.
Ie a System Error

 

[palinurus]

I've never heard Londoners called rufty tufty ?

South Londoners are well rufty-tufty compared to whatever people from Watford are called. Those bollards are on the front page of The Watford Observer every other week.

 

[T4tomo]

I suspect the Watford issue is a complex road layout and complex, confusing signage.
Ie a System Error

It really isn't, its a straight road. There is a large warning sign before you turn in off the adjacent "urban" dual carriage to it, and room to pull / 3 point turn if you did turn in by mistake in large van.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.6...OnV5F6YP9vGvM2pfw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en-GB

 

[Pale Rider]

Hang on. That restrictor is 7' That's not anything special.

There are several 7' width restrictors near me that have been there for YEARS and we rufty tufty SE Londoners have not been wetting our pants and making videos about them. We've just been driving through (and sometimes into) them.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.4...4!1sGip0K830TAp8gY8Gh99kKw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.4...4!1sm7PVI34DlIP3O_Gg8dkeAg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.3...4!1sm-etPlXoKnAAFP_rvPnxjQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

I think it's the length of the Watford restriction which causes the problems.

Threading the eye of a needle is doable, but three needles in a spaced row would be much more difficult.

 

[PK99]

I think it's the length of the Watford restriction which causes the problems.

Threading the eye of a needle is doable, but three needles in a spaced row would be much more difficult.

You mean the contrast Watford

Vs SW19

 

[T4tomo]

I think it's the length of the Watford restriction which causes the problems.

Threading the eye of a needle is doable, but three needles in a spaced row would be much more difficult.

that's quite a good point, plus those bollards are right to the edge of the kerb, so you hit the bollard before the kerb edge, the other one I linked albeit on a slight bend is a single set of bollards which are set 4 or 5" back from the kerb, so you would clip the kerb with a tyre as a warning before crunching your paintwork on the bollard.

 

[cougie uk]

It's not that difficult.

Although it does explain why some muppets can't park within the lines at the supermarket.

 

[Low Gear Guy]

There is one of those near work to prevent lorries taking a short cut through the residential area. Vans and big cars have to slow down to pass through but they have the option of driving around if the gap is too narrow.

 

[lazybloke]

The Watford example is brutal.
This one in Merstham is far more forgiving because the kerbs act as a buffer between the car and the posts.

Although if less intimidating, it probably isn't as effective at calming traffic. Maybe that's why it's a narrower restriction than Watford.