R2OK!

mark occomore · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK

Motorists will be allowed to drive on the hard shoulder of motorways during busy times, Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly has said.
The "extra lane" scheme will be rolled out on the M6 near Birmingham following a successful trial on the nearby M42.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7061188.stm

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What will happen when someone breaks down and uses the hard shoulder. Will there be warnings. It be a nightmare and will cause people to use it as a rat run. We have enough idiots on the roads.

Broken-down vehicles use emergency refuge areas to ensure hard shoulder remains clear ( Not all Motorways have this ) Shocked

firewirefred · Guest

It's madness. Give 'em and inch.... etc..... and everyone will think they can use the hard shoulder all the same. Ridiculous!

nod · Joined: 24 Dec 2006 Posts: 3558

If motorists use the hard shoulder where will the 'Highway Patrol' vehicles do there illegal reversing, or sitting in their vehicle behind broken down cars ?

If they implement all the things they have on the M42 we'll all be restricted to 50mph when there is no congestion Rolling Eyes

RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646

It's hard to imagine that this can be good, but then I've not seen it operating in practice.

Of course, it has been trialled on the one stretch of motorway which is proactively managed, with mandatory variable speed limits enforced by a series of cameras - it's no surprise that fuel consumption, emissions and accidents have been reduced because everyone adheres to the limits posted.

Assuming that the same system is to be rolled out elsewhere then it could be successful. But it will be very expensive (and take a long time) to set up. The danger is that they'll just use messages on the matrix signs on any old stretch of motorway, and that could spell trouble.
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Ron

Scott_Nelson · Guest

I have always used the hard shoulder during busy periods, including bus lanes in London and in some circumstances, pavements.

nod · Joined: 24 Dec 2006 Posts: 3558

"it's no surprise that fuel consumption, emissions....have been reduced "

I didn't realise the M42 cameras were to save the planet Shocked

not just to wind me up when there is no congestion