New advice for recovery on smart motorways

Hope you have her permission to use it

I pay the CC subs ..... 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51236375

This stat alone should be reason to at least stop building more of the ridiculous things .... In the five years before the road (section of the M25) was converted into a smart motorway there were just 72 near misses. In the five years after, there were 1,485. 

Unfortunately, Not-so-Smart motorways tend to be in the city and often there in no Armco in the city

Good afternoon,

As previously advised, I sent this topic back to the Mayday team at Green Flag for their response. This is their statement:

We are aware that there is currently a wide-ranging debate about Smart Motorways, including the safety aspect when there is a breakdown. It also appears to be a topic that is appearing on the news each day at the moment, so we can appreciate that CAMC members will be asking for our position.

The advice from GOV.UK and Highways England is that, in the vast majority of cases, they will be first on the scene as they are continuously monitoring traffic and incidents via CCTV, or they are the designated responders via the SOS phones on the motorway. Their first priority is making the area safe and facilitating the safe removal of any vehicle. 

Our current stance is that we will attend a breakdown on Smart Motorways, but we would only attend in Lane 1 (inside lane) if the breakdown was on the main carriageway, and not in one of the rest areas. We would ask Highways England or the police to attend in support if they are not already in attendance. However, there are cases when this is not possible, and in these cases we would supply another vehicle to ‘protect’ the broken-down vehicle and the recovery vehicle while the incident is being managed.

It should be noted that the only service available on a Smart motorway is a tow off of the motorway, and only after this would the other elements of your Mayday cover come into effect. We would not do anything else on the motorway, as the priority is clearing the carriageway.

We understand that some other providers have taken the stance not to attend incidents on Smart Motorways, but this is not currently our policy.

There is an ongoing safety debate on Smart Motorways and any changes in this policy or other significant issues that arise will be reported back to members as and when appropriate.

I hope this answers your questions around this topic.

Dave

Hmmmm .

Sorry All,  but I've been thinking again  .

In view of the comments passed in the T.V. programmes and also in the response from Green Flag / Mayday above, should I now have the front "towing eye" permanently fitted ?? It is at present in the package under the passenger seat in its designated place and I've only fitted it when it is about to be used and then removed and tucked away afterwards.

I see your point Steve, BUT  I won't know whats agonna happen just up the road though, will I .   They didn't seem at all happy to see people swapping wheels, inflating tyres etc etc in a "Live Lane" even Lane 1.

If I get a flat or swiftly deflating tyre, you won't see me for the sparks 'cos, like you, I rate ABM's hide as much more valuable than any wheel or tyre believe me 

It was on todays news that Highways England are going to change the M5 Motorway between Cribbs Causeway at Bristol as far as Weston-Super-Mere into a so called Smart Motorway. This is a motorway used by 1000's of us every year, as well as everyone else.  It may help the bottle neck every summer at Bristol,   but we are very fearful of having to use it as we have six holidays already booked in Devon. Other ways around to avoid are possible, but will probably take twice as long in time. Not very good news.

That’ll be from jcn 17 to jcn 21 I guess - commuter area. There were works in that stretch last year which may have been for the purpose of upgrade. There are traffic jams at Bristol year round, not just in summer.

Those of us living west of that area will have little option but to use it for whatever the purpose of our journey.

It’s already known as “death alley” in this household. Merging of M4 and M5 and then all the very busy junctions in both directions. To be honest, I though it was already Smart. There are four lanes at one point because this often contributes to bottleneck. 

The problem is how long any help from anyone would take to arrive. Not so bad in crawling traffic, but where it’s knocking on, Mr Yorkie in his 40 tonner, used to tailgating the lorry in front of him , just ain’t going to react fast enough. 

This is a link to a news story highlighting the problem with all lanes open traffic. Five people killed so far, these two got out to exchange details and a lorry killed them both. All lane traffic will be doing up to 70mph in every lane, it’s not the same as opening up the hard shoulder to ease slow moving congestion. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-49567968

The gantries through Birmingham react very quickly to traffic changes, switching the old hard shoulder in and out of action. The faster stretches of the M6 north are not so easy, it just adds another stress to driving, some people still drive too close to other vehicles. Like TW we have to use these motorways to exit and enter the SW and we try to travel on Sundays when there are less lorries.

M1. Sixteen miles of four lanes, permanently in use, all doing 70mph plus. Nowhere to go to the left, you sit and wait for something to hit you.  Your only hope is to limp, crawl, pray you are close to a refuge.