Temporary road signs

[fixitflav]

On a recent trip involving motorways – M1, M25, M20, I saw 2 signs saying “Report of debris” and 1 “Report of accident”. All with 50 mph speed limit. In none of the cases was there any sign of a problem. This is a fairly new development, but what is going on here, with the “Report of”? If the authorities want drivers to slow down as there is a problem, which is presumably the case, why not just say debris etc? Do they expect drivers’ behaviour to differ in the 2 cases?

Are they trying to cover themselves if an accident is caused by vehicles slowing, which is potentially possible? Not our fault Guv, we were only passing on a report.

The examples I saw were spurious, unless the evidence had been cleaned up remarkably quickly. How many people would make a false report, for a laugh or something? Most would not report debris etc if they saw it. If they’re like me, by the time they had found out who to report to, and how to go about it, the information would most likely be too late to be any use.

Is it too cynical to imagine the guys in charge of these signs putting up a false one every now and then, in the expectation of harvesting a few £60 fines (or whatever the going rate is)?

 

[ktuludays]

I've often thought these temporary signs are purely used to slow traffic to prevent backing up/jams.

If they simply said slow down then people would be less likely to comply. By stating there is debris then the driver tends to slow as if there was debris an accident or damage could occur to their vehicle

 

[fixitflav]

I've often thought these temporary signs are purely used to slow traffic to prevent backing up/jams.

If they simply said slow down then people would be less likely to comply. By stating there is debris then the driver tends to slow as if there was debris an accident or damage could occur to their vehicle

But why not just say "Debris in road" etc? It's the "Report of....." that's a recent development. Also if I remember right the ones I saw were on sections pf managed motorway, where a lower speed limit can be posted. These do seem to work keeping traffic flowing.

 

[mattylad]

Perhaps they are also wanting to let you know that the debris has been reported by another driver, that they actually take notice when drivers ring them up and say "there are some ladders on the M1" and so on?

 

[fixitflav]

Perhaps they are also wanting to let you know that the debris has been reported by another driver, that they actually take notice when drivers ring them up and say "there are some ladders on the M1" and so on?

Maybe, but it's interesting that in none of the 3 cases I saw was there anything there.

 

[mattylad]

Then perhaps no one has rung them up and told them this?
Perhaps they need someone to "report the debris has been removed"

 

[cwhaley]

I travel the M1 / M18 / A1 / M62 every week and often see these signs. Often I never end up seeing the debris or minor incident, but sometimes I do.

It's just the delay between the accident being reported and then cleared up or resolved. Just because you didn't see the issue doesn't mean it wasn't there.

 

[fixitflav]

I travel the M1 / M18 / A1 / M62 every week and often see these signs. Often I never end up seeing the debris or minor incident, but sometimes I do.

It's just the delay between the accident being reported and then cleared up or resolved. Just because you didn't see the issue doesn't mean it wasn't there.

Agreed, but it doesn't explain why they've started slipping in the "report of........"

 

[cwhaley]

Agreed, but it doesn't explain why they've started slipping in the "report of........"

I think the message quite literally describes that they have had "a report of" accidents or debris. It covers them and is used as an advisory information message based on contact from road users/police.

The gantries are controlled by the Highways Agency Regional Control Rooms which are in South Yorkshire.

The variable message boards are controlled by The National Traffic Control Centre in or near Brum.

There is also a system called Motorway Incident Detection and Automatic Signalling (MIDAS), which is used to gauge traffic flow and provide information to the variable message boards.

Give them a call on 08457 50 40 30 I'm sure they'd answer the question.

 

[Notch7]

around my way, they seem to be changing the motorways to 'smart motorways'

 

[cwhaley]

Mine too (Junction 25 of M1). All new motorways are built with these information boards on them and many old ones are being retrofitted.

The amount of trees and foliage they removed to do it was criminal! Even if it did mean I have lots of timber for the burner

 

[Ian H]

If the sign says 50 and has flashing yellow spots in the corners, it’s just advice and you can continue at 70.

If it says 50 in a red circle you have to do 50 and the speed cameras may change to 50 too.

I see it all the time, 9 out of 10 times there’s nothing there.

 

[fixitflav]

I see it all the time, 9 out of 10 times there’s nothing there.

How many of the 9 say "report of....."? If they always say that it reinforces my thought there's something crafty going on.

 

[Ian H]

All of them. They used to say accident, now they say report of accident.

 

[fixitflav]

All of them. They used to say accident, now they say report of accident.

Thanks. Interesting, if drivers contact "them" to report things, presumably they contact the police or Highway Maintenance or somebody to deal with it. When they have, you'd think they'd immediately get in touch to confirm, so the sign can be cleared. As there is nearly always nothing there, I remain suspicious.