Are smart motorways smart

I signed it because regardless of driving ability these smart motorways are only there to save money, and are being paid for by death and injury to drivers. Driving ability had nothing to do with what happened to this young man, it was caused by mechanical failure. Any system that does not take into consideration the possibility of human error which we all suffer from, is a poor system In my honest opinion.
 
very short-term approach to cost saving. Modern road structures are typically designed for 120 years lifespan, which should (should) get you 60ish years before major works to it. Smart motorway structures are typically designed with 30yr lifespan, on the basis that the technology that it carries only has a 5-10 year lifespan. Electronics have a habit of being more 'glitchy' than structures, so need far more interventions, which is tougher when there's no hard shoulder.

The issue is similar to with rail infrastructure is that there really aren't that many other ways to increase capacity. However, there's something of a further irony in that a number of locations were already well in excess of the European air pollution limits, so couldn't take more traffic anyway - which is why a number of the sections started dropping to 50mph in order to try to fudge that part of it.
 
WE had bus lanes installed here, but a new sign up today that bus lane has been canceled from sandyknows r about to Belfast slip, no hard shoulder.
 
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Smart Motorhomes have been going for donkey of years, at least 30+ years in Germany to my knowledge. It helps to reduce congestion during peak hours and are run during those times. Accidents are caused due to folks not abiding by the rules or not paying attention or that the system is not fully functional and reliable due to lack of knowledge by the people who have set up the system.
 
David & Ann said:
Smart Motorhomes have been going for donkey of years, at least 30+ years in Germany to my knowledge. It helps to reduce congestion during peak hours and are run during those times. Accidents are caused due to folks not abiding by the rules or not paying attention or that the system is not fully functional and reliable due to lack of knowledge by the people who have set up the system.
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Most problems on motorways are caused by people not following the rules or not concentrating but no amount of information boards can help if you break down until it has been reported and the signs put on and that still relies on people abiding by them.
 
David & Ann said:
Smart Motorhomes have been going for donkey of years, at least 30+ years in Germany to my knowledge. It helps to reduce congestion during peak hours and are run during those times. Accidents are caused due to folks not abiding by the rules or not paying attention or that the system is not fully functional and reliable due to lack of knowledge by the people who have set up the system.
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The example and other examples I could give had nothing whatsoever to do with anyone not following the rules. This young mans motorbike had a mechanical issue, and had no hard shoulder to head to leading to yet another awful accident caused by this smart system.
Any system that fails to take sufficient account of human error or lack of experience is bound to lead to accidents and death. These smart motorways add substantially to the risk of serious accidents. We are all guilty of losing concentration when driving, particularly driving long distances on motorways.
 
I think It would be a good idea if there were an electronic swing out arm kept at an angle so as to limit any damage but force you into second lane it could be made of plastic or something similar highly visible and high enough to be seen by a car but low enough to make a van or or an HGV have move into second lane and if clipped would just swing out of the way it would get the drivers attention this could be placed along inside lane at certain intervals between these refuge areas and be deployed electronically using camera and censors when a car is stopped on the inside lane. It’s just a thought I know this would bring up other issues but they have to do something these things are death traps I get a shiver down my spine just thinking about breaking down on one.
 
Wully said:
I think It would be a good idea if there were an electronic swing out arm kept at an angle so as to limit any damage but force you into second lane it could be made of plastic or something similar highly visible and high enough to be seen by a car but low enough to make a van or or an HGV have move into second lane and if clipped would just swing out of the way it would get the drivers attention this could be placed along inside lane at certain intervals between these refuge areas and be deployed electronically using camera and censors when a car is stopped on the inside lane. It’s just a thought I know this would bring up other issues but they have to do something these things are death traps I get a shiver down my spine just thinking about breaking down on one.
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Wully was on the committee who set up smart motorways, and is an ardent follower of the smart motorways philosophy :)
 
Ok then my second idea don’t use inside lane at all and if you think your gonna break down do it in the middle two lanes at least that leaves the twats behind you two ways to get round or out of the way. 🤔 geen myself a sare heed wae this yin.
 
Wully said:
I think It would be a good idea if there were an electronic swing out arm kept at an angle so as to limit any damage but force you into second lane it could be made of plastic or something similar highly visible and high enough to be seen by a car but low enough to make a van or or an HGV have move into second lane and if clipped would just swing out of the way it would get the drivers attention this could be placed along inside lane at certain intervals between these refuge areas and be deployed electronically using camera and censors when a car is stopped on the inside lane. It’s just a thought I know this would bring up other issues but they have to do something these things are death traps I get a shiver down my spine just thinking about breaking down on one.
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Automatic deployment of a Stinger would slow offenders down. 🤔
 
trevskoda said:
Worst bit is if you lose power in the overtaking lane and cannot get too hard shoulder, happened to me once many years back and I had a big laundry bill.
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Is that why you got a truck that won't be in the overtaking lane. :p
 
Fisherman said:
The example and other examples I could give had nothing whatsoever to do with anyone not following the rules. This young mans motorbike had a mechanical issue, and had no hard shoulder to head to leading to yet another awful accident caused by this smart system.
Any system that fails to take sufficient account of human error or lack of experience is bound to lead to accidents and death. These smart motorways add substantially to the risk of serious accidents. We are all guilty of losing concentration when driving, particularly driving long distances on motorways.
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There are sensors every 100 metres along the hard shoulder being used as a lane during peak hours. If a vehicle stops for any reason the sensors detect it and the Road closed sign lights up with arrows directing you to the next lane, the lane becomes a hard shoulder again and avoids accidents. I have lived in Germany for 45 years and I think, not sure, there were only a handful of mishaps when the system opened, now there are none.
 
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