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Driving on the hard shoulder...
- Thread starter playalistic
- Start date
In NL, during busy hours that is exactly what is happening legally. The hard shoulder is then part of the motorway to eliviate the jams (a bit). Was trialed for years, but is now "normal".
Previously, the busses were already using the hardshoulder anyway to promote that it is faster using public transport as they were bypassing the traffic jams.
Not quite sure how they approach the emergency services issue, but I guess that in theory they could come from the other side of the motorway in case of an accident.
Previously, the busses were already using the hardshoulder anyway to promote that it is faster using public transport as they were bypassing the traffic jams.
Not quite sure how they approach the emergency services issue, but I guess that in theory they could come from the other side of the motorway in case of an accident.
Brave lad but he has got a point 
Saw something similar to this on Monday afternoon on the A1 north near wetherby,traffic at a standstill but then people using the hardshoulder to get to the next junction,at one point a wagon running up the hard shoulder with a Police car with Blue's & two's stuck behind him i hope they pulled him but they probably had more pressing matters.
Saw something similar to this on Monday afternoon on the A1 north near wetherby,traffic at a standstill but then people using the hardshoulder to get to the next junction,at one point a wagon running up the hard shoulder with a Police car with Blue's & two's stuck behind him i hope they pulled him but they probably had more pressing matters.
A
Anonymous
Guest
All b*llocks....
The emergency services will enter the motorway from the junction beyond the crash and come back along an empty motorway in the wrong direction as it is the quickest method, Also cars are more and more being diverted to use the Hard Shoulder in cases of congestion. these people may have been directed onto the hard shoulder.
The Highway code states:
269
Hard shoulder. You MUST NOT use the hard shoulder for overtaking. In areas where an Active Traffic Management (ATM) Scheme is in force, the hard shoulder may be used as a running lane. You will know when you can use this because a speed limit sign will be shown above all open lanes, including the hard shoulder. A red cross or blank sign above the hard shoulder means that you MUST NOT drive on the hard shoulder except in an emergency or breakdown. Emergency refuge areas have also been built into these areas for use in cases of emergency or breakdown,
The emergency services will enter the motorway from the junction beyond the crash and come back along an empty motorway in the wrong direction as it is the quickest method, Also cars are more and more being diverted to use the Hard Shoulder in cases of congestion. these people may have been directed onto the hard shoulder.
The Highway code states:
269
Hard shoulder. You MUST NOT use the hard shoulder for overtaking. In areas where an Active Traffic Management (ATM) Scheme is in force, the hard shoulder may be used as a running lane. You will know when you can use this because a speed limit sign will be shown above all open lanes, including the hard shoulder. A red cross or blank sign above the hard shoulder means that you MUST NOT drive on the hard shoulder except in an emergency or breakdown. Emergency refuge areas have also been built into these areas for use in cases of emergency or breakdown,
I find it amusing.. but as above the emergency services will not be blocked off as the rolling road block will have closed the motorway, they will enter from the junction ahead and drive down the motorway the wrong way.
The government even said that active traffic management like on the M42 where in busy periods people drive on the hard shoulder would have been a better cost saving on the M1 instead of the ever going lane widening.
The government even said that active traffic management like on the M42 where in busy periods people drive on the hard shoulder would have been a better cost saving on the M1 instead of the ever going lane widening.
lacroupade
Veteran
Bunch of twats. Lets hope none of our loved ones are waiting on the motorway for an ambulance to save their life.......
A
Anonymous
Guest
sars said:gookah said:
Well I was stuck on the M5 last night in Birmingham after an accident, the emergency services (fire) were stuck behind a queue of traffic who thought the same as you and decided to use the hard shoulder for the next junction, muppets
And just where is that the same as my thinking?
I point out that a lot of motorways now direct traffic onto the hard shoulder to alleviate congestion, so much so that the highway code has been amended to reflect this. It regularly is a traffic mangement decision to use the hard shoulder nowadays, and not account for so called emergency access.
So what happens when a serious incident occurs whilst the hard shoulder is being used in this way and also comes to a standstill, is that version now acceptable? If 'emergency access' on this lane was so important they would have never allowed the use of the hard shoulder in this way
1066 Country
gookah said:
Believe this was a stupid change, laws never suit everyone all the time, just there supposidly for the common good. Whilst I agree the Highway code has been changed for roadworks to help traffic flow, emergency services aren't always available ahead of an incident as I've seen them using the hard shoulder many times while I'm stuck in a queue.
Am from the old school, keep them free so if I'm ever the one that needs rescuing & they're coming through the tailback, they can get to me. The only time I'd support a change to make it legal to use them is if you can directly see the next exit is clear if your route was blocked on the main carriageway... otherwise I think these muppets need to suck it up, you're not more important than me so wait like everyone else
Hypothetical situation for your perusal/amusement, hopefully illustrating why I think the hard shoulder should be kept clear. Forgive the rubbish picture, it was done in a couple of minutes using ms-paint.
Hospital is close to Junction 1. Accident with potential for fatalities occurs between Junctions 1 and 2. Journey time to accident via Junction 1 and hard shoulder - 15 minutes. Journey time via Junction 2 coming back down wrong way of motorway - 35 minutes.
Under those circumstances, the ambulance would logically go via Junction 1 and use the hard shoulder to reach the accident. Unless they were forewarned that some idiots are blocking the hard shoulder, because they absolutely have to get to where they want to go. So the ambulance would be delayed if the hard shoulder were blocked, either by
(a) not getting an advance warning, and having to fight through the traffic, or
(b) having to take the long way around to attend the scene.
I'm not taking into account those motorways where active traffic management is in place and active, because it's pretty rare as far as I know. Personally I think it's a daft idea, as bad as that idea at the other end of the spectrum - the M4 Bus Lane (now scrapped thankfully).
What are your thoughts?
lacroupade
Veteran
I agree with you wholeheartedly.
Legal enforcement of lane discipline would improve traffic flow no end, obviating the need to have dual-use hard shoulders. I can't imagine what sort of tosspot town hall traffic planner thought it would be a good idea since of course nobody breaks down in the rush hour do they, so who needs a hard shoulder............????
Legal enforcement of lane discipline would improve traffic flow no end, obviating the need to have dual-use hard shoulders. I can't imagine what sort of tosspot town hall traffic planner thought it would be a good idea since of course nobody breaks down in the rush hour do they, so who needs a hard shoulder............????