Smart Motorways Death Trap Front Page

[arista]

https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/F77E/production/_110685336_dailymail.jpg


Over 5 years
38 dead.

As they stayed in their
Cars on the Road
assuming that a X would appear
and drivers would notice it.

There was a BBC Panorama on this,

[Livia]

The hard shoulder of a motorway is a really dangerous place at the best of times. Taking that away and making it a lane is insanity. And they call it "smart"!

[Kizzy]

Who was the bright spark behind this then? ... I can't believe anyone thought this would work :/
The poor recovery guys having to effectively shield breakdowns what!?

[arista]

The hard shoulder of a motorway is a really dangerous place at the best of times. Taking that away and making it a lane is insanity. And they call it "smart"!



But at least if you break down
the hard shoulder you car can go on - safe
if you get out
just make sure no fast cars in the lane
common sense.

[arista]

Who was the bright spark behind this then? ... I can't believe anyone thought this would work :/
The poor recovery guys having to effectively shield breakdowns what!?


Conservative -LibDem 2010

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_motorway


And Kizzy it's so unsafe
AA and RAC no longer go on it.
you are left with 999 emergency

[AnnieK]

They spent years and millions making the M60 in Manchester a "smart motorway" to keep traffic moving.....sitting in standing traffic every morning, I can conclude, it didn't work.

[arista]

They spent years and millions making the M60 in Manchester a "smart motorway" to keep traffic moving.....sitting in standing traffic every morning, I can conclude, it didn't work.


Yes as the years go on
more Wife's get car's
as well as the men

[Marsh.]

Yes as the years go on
more Wife's get car's
as well as the men

Honestly, what planet do you live on?

[arista]

Honestly, what planet do you live on?

England
We used to Control America back in 1607

[AnnieK]

Yes as the years go on
more Wife's get car's
as well as the men

Them bloody wife's clogging up our motorways :fist:
They should stick to the kitchen sink where they belong, raising the little'uns

:rolleyes:

[Mitchell]

Honestly, what planet do you live on?

Uranus

[Alf]

I have a better solution, get rid of motor vehicles altogether.

Bring back the horse and cart. Keep the trains too.

[bots]

people do not pay proper care and attention on motorways, they dont often drive within their vehicle and personal capabilities. if they did, the smart motorways would be fine

[arista]

people do not pay proper care and attention on motorways, they dont often drive within their vehicle and personal capabilities. if they did, the smart motorways would be fine


Of Course
But lack of public info
or TV ads

is why.

[arista]

I have a better solution, get rid of motor vehicles altogether.

Bring back the horse and cart. Keep the trains too.


No Alf
Amazon Prime
is the next day
we pay each year for that
and free Star Trek new series.


Wake UP Alf

[arista]

Them bloody wife's clogging up our motorways :fist:
They should stick to the kitchen sink where they belong, raising the little'uns

:rolleyes:


Some do.
To be most fair

[Kizzy]

Conservative -LibDem 2010

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_motorway


And Kizzy it's so unsafe
AA and RAC no longer go on it.
you are left with 999 emergency

Not surprised.. crap ideas about roads, bridges, trains, runways. And they still got in because of another crap tory idea :/

[Livia]

When I take over the country, no one under 25 is getting a licence. That'll take a decent number of cars off the roads, and all of them belonging to the "most dangerous" age group.

[Kizzy]

'It is clear to see from data released by Gov.uk last year, that drivers aged 20–29 pose the most risk on our roads. With dramatically higher figures than any other age group, drivers in their twenties were last year involved in 20,841 road incidents of all severities – considerably higher than any other age group and drastically greater than road incidents of all severities involving drivers aged 70–79 (3,254) and road incidents involving drivers aged 80 and over (1,939.)'

https://www.click4reg.co.uk/blog/drivers-under-age-of-25-cause/

[Dogeatdog]

When I take over the country, no one under 25 is getting a licence. That'll take a decent number of cars off the roads, and all of them belonging to the "most dangerous" age group.

This is not a smart idea.

[Kizzy]

Yep punish the majority due to the minority that always a good plan.

[user104658]

When I take over the country, no one under 25 is getting a licence. That'll take a decent number of cars off the roads, and all of them belonging to the "most dangerous" age group.To be fair though, while some of that is down to recklessness of young drivers... A lot of it is down to the inexperience of NEW drivers. So making it that you can only start at 25 would probably just bump up the figures for accidents involving 25-30 year olds... Since all the 25 year olds are now the new inexperienced drivers.

Really there's no way to get around there being inexperienced drivers on the road, unfortunately. Everyone is new at some point.

Soef of reminds me of an old customer I had who used to frequently insist - when he had been inconvenienced by staff inexperience of some sort - that "untrained staff shouldn't be working on the desk!!". I once suggested as an OBVIOUSLY sarcastic joke that they should be trained in warehouses with actors for 6 months and he unironically thought it was a great idea :joker:

[Matthew.]

Honestly, what planet do you live on?

England

:laugh2:

[Livia]

This is not a smart idea.

How do you propose to reduce the number of cars on the road then? Because a house with two adults and two teenagers is pretty soon going to be come a four car house. Young people don't have the judgement skills of older people. They think they do... I thought I was very sophisticated at 18. It's only looking back you realise how under cooked you really are.

[Livia]

To be fair though, while some of that is down to recklessness of young drivers... A lot of it is down to the inexperience of NEW drivers. So making it that you can only start at 25 would probably just bump up the figures for accidents involving 25-30 year olds... Since all the 25 year olds are now the new inexperienced drivers.

Really there's no way to get around there being inexperienced drivers on the road, unfortunately. Everyone is new at some point.

Soef of reminds me of an old customer I had who used to frequently insist - when he had been inconvenienced by staff inexperience of some sort - that "untrained staff shouldn't be working on the desk!!". I once suggested as an OBVIOUSLY sarcastic joke that they should be trained in warehouses with actors for 6 months and he unironically thought it was a great idea :joker:

Inexperienced and young... they're not the same thing.

We're hurtling towards an environmental disaster... and yet we're going to stand up for the rights of more people to drive cars. What would Greta say?

[thesheriff443]

There is a reason that a young drivers insurance is the most expensive.

Let’s not look at facts or common sense, let’s go with, you don’t like black cars, your racist.

[Dogeatdog]

How do you propose to reduce the number of cars on the road then? Because a house with two adults and two teenagers is pretty soon going to be come a four car house. Young people don't have the judgement skills of older people. They think they do... I thought I was very sophisticated at 18. It's only looking back you realise how under cooked you really are.

I think maybe make it compulsory that all drivers aged between 18-24 have to have a black box installed in their car. It would deter dangerous driving and would teach them to drive more safely possibly? May also possibly reduce the number of drivers on the road since some may not want to drive with a black box installed (I know I wouldn’t).

Edit: Just to add, reading back on my original post that may have came across as a bit rude which it wasn’t supposed to so I apologise if it did.

[Livia]

We're running out of space on the roads. There's nowhere to park and no one escapes traffic jams. And there is the environmental impact of more and more cars and the population grows ever bigger. We should be thinking of getting more cars off the roads, not on to them. Raising the driving age would help... and reduce accidents.

[Livia]

I think maybe make it compulsory that all drivers aged between 18-24 have to have a black box installed in their car. It would deter dangerous driving and would teach them to drive more safely possibly? May also possibly reduce the number of drivers on the road since some may not want to drive with a black box installed (I know I wouldn’t).

Edit: Just to add, reading back on my original post that may have came across as a bit rude which it wasn’t supposed to so I apologise if it did.

Well that's very nice of you BE. No need to apologise though, I didn't find you at all offensive.

[Dogeatdog]

We're running out of space on the roads. There's nowhere to park and no one escapes traffic jams. And there is the environmental impact of more and more cars and the population grows ever bigger. We should be thinking of getting more cars off the roads, not on to them. Raising the driving age would help... and reduce accidents.

I think it’s gonna be to difficult to reduce the number of cars on the road especially as public transport seems to get more expensive and personally I don’t think it’s getting much better.

I can only speak for myself but when I was driving it used to cost me £10 a week in petrol to get to work, shopping and a few other things. Now I get the bus and it costs £21 a week to do the same thing. Now I know with a car your paying tax, insurance and all this stuff so it is dearer but I had that freedom to just go out and do what I need to do quickly. Having to get a bus to do Christmas shopping and stuff like that for example, was a nightmare. The buses were packed (some were skipping stops), the trains in my area never seem to run properly on weekends and I had to put up with everyone’s moaning.

[Dogeatdog]

Regarding smart motorways how the government thought this was a good idea I’m baffled. The whole point of the hard shoulder is for stopping in an emergency so opening it up to reduce congestion was only bound to cause accidents. Also I don’t get how they thought implementing this would reduce congestion? The whole reason the motorways are clogged during rush hour is because we all need to be at the same place at the same time. It’s not as if we are all waking up and clogging up the motorways at 8 in the morning to just be really annoying.

[Marsh.]

Can we start by banning the giant 4x4s that were designed for wide American roads and not narrow little English ones?

I know Lauren likes to pull up at the school gates in a nice silver one to compete with the other mums when she's picking up Tilly and Billy but they are a hazard. Bigger annoyance when they're parked at the "side" of the road but are practically sitting in the middle of it.

[Livia]

Can we start by banning the giant 4x4s that were designed for wide American roads and not narrow little English ones?

I know Lauren likes to pull up at the school gates in a nice silver one to compete with the other mums when she's picking up Tilly and Billy but they are a hazard. Bigger annoyance when they're parked at the "side" of the road but are practically sitting in the middle of it.

I have a 4x4... but I do live right out in the sticks. And it's very green... it switches itself off when I stop for traffic lights and stuff. But I get what you're saying. Mind you, some of those driveways in Islington and Chelsea are bloody steep......

[Liam-]

Ban old drivers tbh

[arista]

Ban old drivers tbh


Even if you did
they are still Folks unsure on these massive
smart motorways

[Livia]

Ban old drivers tbh

Why? When young men cause the vast majority of accidents? What reason can you give for banning old drivers? Apart from your own ageism?

[Liam-]

Ageism lmao, you literally want young people banned from driving, older people can be nightmares on the roads, everyone has been stuck behind them, everyone has been cut up or shocked by a bad manoeuvre by them, you’re allowed to make statements about age groups but other people can’t?

[Kizzy]

Inexperienced and young... they're not the same thing.

We're hurtling towards an environmental disaster... and yet we're going to stand up for the rights of more people to drive cars. What would Greta say?

She'd say stop disparaging young people, they are intelligent and competent.

[arista]

Some Motorways in Kent
were meant to go Smart Motorway
but are now having 2nd thoughts.

[Kizzy]

Can we start by banning the giant 4x4s that were designed for wide American roads and not narrow little English ones?

I know Lauren likes to pull up at the school gates in a nice silver one to compete with the other mums when she's picking up Tilly and Billy but they are a hazard. Bigger annoyance when they're parked at the "side" of the road but are practically sitting in the middle of it.
Amen! These vehicles are a menace on country roads and on ordinary roads in my experience are driven very aggressively.

Not sure if it's psychological but being in such a large vehicle or being higher up seems to make some drivers think they own the road!

[Dogeatdog]

Amen! These vehicles are a menace on country roads and on ordinary roads in my experience are driven very aggressively.

Not sure if it's psychological but being in such a large vehicle or being higher up seems to make some drivers think they own the road!

You should see them in car parks. It’s very entertaining watching them try to squeeze into those tiny spaces.

[Kizzy]

I see them at work, parked across 2 bays inconsiderate basts!

[Dogeatdog]

I see them at work, parked across 2 bays inconsiderate basts!

How selfish :fist:

[Livia]

Ageism lmao, you literally want young people banned from driving, older people can be nightmares on the roads, everyone has been stuck behind them, everyone has been cut up or shocked by a bad manoeuvre by them, you’re allowed to make statements about age groups but other people can’t?

I would like to ban younger drivers because they are responsible for the majority of deaths on the road. 17-18 year olds are the most likely to die in a collision. This is why they pay so much more insurance. The statistics are there to back up my opinion.

You want older drivers banned..... Why? Because they're safer? Because they have fewer accidents?

It's clear where the ageism lies.

[Livia]

You should see them in car parks. It’s very entertaining watching them try to squeeze into those tiny spaces.

I can park my 4x4 anywhere. A 4x4 is pretty essential where I live during the winter. Despite what Kizzy thinks.

[Kizzy]

I can park my 4x4 anywhere. A 4x4 is pretty essential where I live during the winter. Despite what Kizzy thinks.

Are you trying to bait me into a negative reply? ... I'm just trying to have a nice time here!

I object only to very large SUV /4x4s .. Obviously in some areas they are needed.

[Kizzy]

This gives a good perspective

'There were 10,974 accidents involving drivers over the age of 70 in 2011, says the DfT. That compares with 11,946 accidents involving 17-to-19-year-old drivers and 24,007 accidents involving 20-to-24-year-old drivers. Its statistics do not account for who caused the accident.'

But although both charities believe older drivers are as safe as any other driver, there are some exceptions.

'In key locations such as high-speed junctions, high-speed roundabouts and slip roads onto motorways and dual carriageways - locations where drivers are required to look around quickly and make quick decisions - some drivers over the age of 70 struggle," says Greig.'

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-24204489

[Cal.]

Yeah well ive failed my test twice so I can’t drive

[Cal.]

But I saw a documentary on this last week. Bloody awful! And the advice the authorities have given if you are to break down is to sit put and hope you’re not flattened by an eight wheeler!!!

[Kizzy]

Yeah well ive failed my test twice so I can’t drive

You'll get there don't worry.. I cheated and went auto :laugh:

[arista]

https://liveblog.digitalimages.sky/lc-images-sky/lcimg-59a8c2ac-c214-4412-b774-b1e97681d6a5.jpeg

[arista]

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[arista]

Sunak said he would Stop Smart Motorways

But he has done another U Turn.

They are staying put.