"Smart" motorways...a query

[Xenophon PCDGS]

There have been moves afoot to introduce these in certain areas by the proposed use of the "hard shoulder" lane for normal traffic to help to obviate poor traffic flows.

In situations such as this, what happens when a driver normally needs to pull over onto the hard shoulder in a case of an emergency on such a motorway and how can they be noticed as being in need of assistance?

 

[LowLevel]

You may find the following an interesting read - it's a handbook for the method of operations of these types of managed motorways - http://www.standardsforhighways.co....o/files/MM-ALR_Concept_of_Operations_v2_0.pdf

It seems the theory is that there are refuge areas every 2.5km. If you can't get to one, they will see you on the CCTV and use the overhead monitors to close your lane and divert traffic around you. A traffic or police officer will attend the vehicle and use their powers of statutory removal to drag it themselves or have a recovery vehicle move it to an emergency refuge as an appropriate location, wherever that may be. Section 5 refers.

 

[Haydn1971]

The hard shoulder is an extremely dangerous place to stop, research has found that 9 out of 10 stops on the hard shoulder are unnecessary so part of the concept is to remove the risks associated with these unnecessary stops. The whole concept of smart motorways wraps a technology solution around the removal of the hard shoulder to facilitate the use of the whole carriageway width. Early deployments generally provided a dynamic use of the hard shoulder, but we are generally moving to a all lane running provision now to reduce the complexity of the dynamic use that some motorists found with the original concept. The benefits are clear, smart motorways offer capacity at a much lower cost to traditional widening techniques and are generally proving to be much safer, although there are some examples where the collision savings haven't been as great as expected, although these are being addressed with early interventions to improve safety.

 

[Bletchleyite]

It seems the theory is that there are refuge areas every 2.5km. If you can't get to one, they will see you on the CCTV and use the overhead monitors to close your lane and divert traffic around you.

This doesn't universally work - I've seen a stationary vehicle on the hard shoulder with it open to traffic. However, technology will no doubt provide an improvement on this - for example, if we had ANPR at every gantry[1], it would be easy to recognise if a vehicle had entered a section in a given lane and not left it. This could allow the speed limit to be set to 40 with a note "stationary vehicle" automatically, and prompt staff to view the CCTV to see where it is and close the appropriate lanes (which might even be lane 3 or 4) including potentially a buffer lane[2] - much safer than a traditional motorway where a car stuck anywhere other than the hard shoulder is in a huge amount of danger, as is anyone in it who can't necessarily get to safety.

The next logical progression is automatic analysis of the CCTV to see where it is. That isn't far off.

A further one is to allow drivers to report problems. If anyone has used the free satnav Waze (a Google product these days, though they bought it in) they will notice that this allows drivers to report problems with a couple of taps on large buttons which are then relayed to other drivers. Confidence in the reports can be based on how many people report something based on how much traffic there is, and you can also quickly tap to say "not there any more". This is so much quicker than dialling 999, and the confidence level based on the number of reports is useful in weeding out people being silly with the app.

You then progress onto cars which, if a collision is detected, report it automatically.

[1] This could be coupled with average speed enforcement which would stop the "speed up to the GATSO then brake" approach some drivers use on the earlier setups - the whole point of the speed regulation is, other than safety, to prevent "brake light cascades", and this approach causes them.

[2] Am I the only driver who, on seeing a stationary vehicle on the hard shoulder, prefers to pull out and leave a clear lane between me and them? I've had people undertake me on a quiet motorway when doing this, which is frustrating as I do it for their safety, not to sit lazily in the middle lane, and pull back once I have passed.

 

[headshot119]

*snip*

[2] Am I the only driver who, on seeing a stationary vehicle on the hard shoulder, prefers to pull out and leave a clear lane between me and them? I've had people undertake me on a quiet motorway when doing this, which is frustrating as I do it for their safety, not to sit lazily in the middle lane, and pull back once I have passed.

No you aren't. I do it every time where I'm able to.

 

[Haydn1971]

This doesn't universally work

Correct, but then few technologies are perfect

The next logical progression is automatic analysis of the CCTV to see where it is. That isn't far off.

This is a fundamental part of a smart motorway, monitoring is provided using roadside cameras every few 100 metres...

They look like this...

This could be coupled with average speed enforcement which would stop the "speed up to the GATSO then brake" approach some drivers use on the earlier setups - the whole point of the speed regulation is, other than safety, to prevent "brake light cascades", and this approach causes them.

Smart motorways are currently using HADECS-3 which is a digital fixed camera but offers enforcement across all lanes and integrates with variable speed limits, which currently average speed technologies don't - I'm led to believe that average speed enforcement will come along in time, once someone figures out how to do all lane enforcement and getting type approval for the equipment. My personal feeling is that there are less people doing the speed and brake thing these days, as the visual clues to the enforcement cameras are less obvious than they once were

There's a bit of into here http://www.speedcamerasuk.com/hadecs-3.htm

More details on smart motorway design can be found here http://www.standardsforhighways.co.uk/ians/pdfs/ian161r1.pdf

Am I the only driver who, on seeing a stationary vehicle on the hard shoulder, prefers to pull out and leave a clear lane between me and them? I've had people undertake me on a quiet motorway when doing this, which is frustrating as I do it for their safety, not to sit lazily in the middle lane, and pull back once I have passed.

I do this too, please keep on doing so ! Having been involved in road safety operations and engineering for over two decades, I've seen many consequences of high speed collisions - we had a near miss on site just last week, a HGV ploughing into the coned area where staff were working - it's very sobering :-/

 

[jon0844]

Why did we have the M25 between Potters Bar and Enfield removing the hard shoulder without the same level of monitoring or signs to close lane 1 easily and safely?

It seems that there are incidents regularly that cause untold delays. I know a smart motorway is more expensive, but surely it's a lot safer and I always assumed that when we first talked about getting rid of hard shoulders the smart solution was going to be used everywhere.

 

[Haydn1971]

Why did we have the M25 between Potters Bar and Enfield removing the hard shoulder without the same level of monitoring or signs to close lane 1 easily and safely?

I seem to recall the M25 scheme being an early "all lane running" scheme, which was halfway between the earlier managed motorway and current smart motorway schemes.

It seems that there are incidents regularly that cause untold delays. I know a smart motorway is more expensive, but surely it's a lot safer and I always assumed that when we first talked about getting rid of hard shoulders the smart solution was going to be used everywhere.

I'd agree, the monitoring is key part of the safety of such schemes

 

[Bletchleyite]

This is a fundamental part of a smart motorway, monitoring is provided using roadside cameras every few 100 metres...

Is this done by automatic image analysis, though? I thought it was manual.

 

[Ianno87]

No you aren't. I do it every time where I'm able to.

I did it on the A421 dual carriage way near Bedford last week, which doesn't have hard shoulders. It was dark, and there was a recovery vehicle on the verge in the distance with its orange lights flashing that wasn't clear from a distance whether it was fully clear of the inside lane or not.

So, there being very little traffic around, I pulled out into the outside line to give them plenty of space.

A few seconds later, some Larry Leadfoot (who'd been well behind me when I pulled out) rockets up behind me at about 90mph tailgating me and flashing his lights. I never cease to be amazed by some other drivers' inability to see more than 50 feet in front of them, and total disregard for safety of themselves or others...

 

[Haydn1971]

Is this done by automatic image analysis, though? I thought it was manual.

If a CCTV based vehicle detection system is used, it will be via image analysis, if loop based systems are used, it won't be.

 

[455driver]

Because drivers always comply with the overhead signs don't they! :roll:

 

[radamfi]

Because drivers always comply with the overhead signs don't they! :roll:

You would be foolish not to. Driving through a red "X" can lead to a fine and points on your licence.

 

[Haydn1971]

You would be foolish not to. Driving through a red "X" can lead to a fine and points on your licence.

Alternatively, and perhaps worse, lead to your face planted into the rear of a big pile up that the sign was warning you off

 

[Bletchleyite]

If a CCTV based vehicle detection system is used, it will be via image analysis, if loop based systems are used, it won't be.

Any evidence for that? So far as I know it is done by manual viewing of the CCTV.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

You would be foolish not to. Driving through a red "X" can lead to a fine and points on your licence.

I'm surprised the cameras are not used to enforce this.

 

[jon0844]

On the M1 from Hemel Hempstead North, I've seen lanes closed due to incident further ahead and people not moving over, happily driving under the red X.

Seems others follow like sheep and I'd assume/hope they're done.

 

[PermitToTravel]

I don't understand why the cameras enforcing VSLs don't do red Xs too. It would be brilliant.

 

[me123]

It's very common in Glasgow for people to drive under the red Xs on the M8. I used to laugh at the matrix signs displaying "Red X is mandatory", but having seen a BMW very nearly hit a line of traffic cones at 70mph+... people simply ignore them. I would be in favour of having the matrix signs with speed limits/lane advisories on the facing side, and having an enforcement camera on the other.

My question with removing the hard shoulder would be - what happens to Blue Light emergency vehicles? I've seen (and been in) ambulances that pass a queue of traffic by driving down the hard shoulder. Sure, it's possible to close a lane for ambulances and police cars, but this takes time and on a properly gridlocked road, the emergency vehicle will be there before the lane is clear.

 

[Bletchleyite]

In Germany queueing traffic is required to move to the side of their lane in lanes 2 and 3 to create a "Rettungsspur", but I can't imagine UK drivers being disciplined enough to do this.

I suspect the answer is that if the motorway is totally blocked they will access it by driving the wrong way from the next junction.

 

[Haydn1971]

Any evidence for that? So far as I know it is done by manual viewing of the CCTV.

Optical systems have been deployed on tunnels...

http://www.roadtraffic-technology.c...n/traficon/presstraficon-dartford-tunnel.html

IAN 161/15 allows provision via non loop methods, but loop based systems (MIDAS) are pretty much proven technologies, so are currently the preferred method to automatically set the overhead signals with the CCTV used to validate - this will change in time as optical systems become proven solutions that perform as well as loop based systems, I doubt this will happen in Tranche 1, but is looking increasingly possible on later Tranche projects - it really is a moving target of technologies at the moment.

I'm surprised the cameras are not used to enforce this.

At the moment HADECS-3 doesn't do this - however things will change soon with the next generation of enforcement - it's all a bit of a need to know type basis - and I don't need to know in my current role

http://assets.highways.gov.uk/speci...79 004 V7 MM EnforcementTechnologyRoadMap.pdf

 

[DelayRepay]

On the M1 from Hemel Hempstead North, I've seen lanes closed due to incident further ahead and people not moving over, happily driving under the red X.

My dear old dad always used to ignore the overhead signs (speed limits etc, this was before the Red X was invented!) - he said the people in the control room set them and then forgot to turn them off. To be fair he was right, you'd often see a 50 limit saying ACCIDENT AHEAD but there was no such accident.

They do seem a lot better at using the signs now.

I use the stretch of the M1 you mention (mainly from Redbourn to Milton Keynes) every week and I am amazed at how many people ignore the signs, either by driving in a lane that's closed or not driving in the hard shoulder even though it's operating as a normal running lane.

 

[jon0844]

I used to drive back from the M3 to A10 via the M25 and regularly had speed limits of 40mph and 'queue ahead' written on what was an empty road - around 2 or 3am. You had to assume the variable speed limit cameras were live though.

As for not using the now lane 1 when open, I hardly ever see people using bus lanes when they're 'open'. Seems some people just don't quite get it, any more than they understand merging in turn isn't someone else trying to queue jump...

 

[Pakenhamtrain]

I know with our managed freeway system we use detector loops and CCTV and once the system detects something unusual it will do it's thing and alert the TMC and will start automatically reducing speed limits/Activating the ramp metering. Might start fiddling with the SCATS enabled traffic lights on other roads as well.

 

[radamfi]

As for not using the now lane 1 when open, I hardly ever see people using bus lanes when they're 'open'. Seems some people just don't quite get it, any more than they understand merging in turn isn't someone else trying to queue jump...

A lot of the time, the hard shoulder disappears off at the next junction so you would have to pull into the next lane anyway before long.

Bus lanes operating at certain times of days is a British/Irish thing. If bus lanes are needed at peak times because traffic is heavier, then there's no harm in operating them at the rest of the time as traffic isn't heavy anyway. In other countries there is often no sign for a bus lane, just white paint on the road, meaning that they operate 24/7.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Bus lanes operating at certain times of days is a British/Irish thing. If bus lanes are needed at peak times because traffic is heavier, then there's no harm in operating them at the rest of the time as traffic isn't heavy anyway. In other countries there is often no sign for a bus lane, just white paint on the road, meaning that they operate 24/7.

Quite. Either the bus lane is needed because the traffic is there, or it isn't needed because the traffic isn't. If the traffic isn't, it isn't needed for cars either, and having this inconsistency causes increased accident risk.

 

[jon0844]

I don't see anything wrong with a bus lane operational only at certain times. When it's not operational, you'd surely drive in it? Keep left unless overtaking.

As for smart motorways, if the hard shoulder disappears at an exit there will be ample warning. In my experience, it usually carries on and the exit is now off that. The road markings can initially be a bit confusing though, so I can see why people might not be 100% sure.

But I'd hope people don't just stick to the main carriageway lanes because of this. They're effectively middle lane hogging then.

 

[EssexGonzo]

But I'd hope people don't just stick to the main carriageway lanes because of this. They're effectively middle lane hogging then.

Carry on hoping.....

It seems that the Great British Public cannot process a 4-lane motorway. Much of the time, lanes 3 and 4 are the busiest. Regularly on the M1 from MK to Hemel Hempsted, the best lane for overtaking will be lane 1 as it gets so little use. I can only assume that the halfwits hogging lane 3 or 4 are either insecure and feel that they have to stay in an "overtaking" lane (a misnomer) or they're just idiots and have forgotten "keep left unless overtaking".

It's this behaviour which is stealing capacity from our roads.

By the way....the smart motorways and the "semi-smart" M25 now have speed cameras which are live all of the time, not just when a temp limit is posted. They're the cameras at the side of the road every 3, 4 or 5 columns/gantries and are in addition to the variable cameras above each lane.

 

[edwin_m]

I don't see anything wrong with a bus lane operational only at certain times. When it's not operational, you'd surely drive in it? Keep left unless overtaking.

Sometimes the blue signs denoting the times of operation aren't very obvious, and if you miss them you probably assume the bus lane is 24/7 and using it would risk a penalty.

I agree that all bus lanes should be 24/7, as this reduces confusion. It also reduces the danger to cyclists where no cycle lane is provided (I can't think of any road that has both!). If necessary parking can be allowed in the bus lane at times when the road is less busy so buses won't benefit from it.

As for smart motorways, if the hard shoulder disappears at an exit there will be ample warning. In my experience, it usually carries on and the exit is now off that. The road markings can initially be a bit confusing though, so I can see why people might not be 100% sure.

But I'd hope people don't just stick to the main carriageway lanes because of this. They're effectively middle lane hogging then.

A lot of less confident/experienced motorway drivers are worried about pushing out to the right when there is someone else approaching in that lane who might have to move into the next one or slow down to make room. They have no way of knowing if this is the sort of driver who tailgates, blows horn or flashes lights in frustration if their illegally fast journey is briefly interrupted. I think this is a large part of the reason for middle lane hogging when the alternative is to be stuck behind something slow, so perhaps the speed merchants only have themselves to blame?

 

[Haydn1971]

Quite. Either the bus lane is needed because the traffic is there, or it isn't needed because the traffic isn't. If the traffic isn't, it isn't needed for cars either, and having this inconsistency causes increased accident risk.

Unless the peak hour bus lane is in an area where road side parking is required off peak, past shops or homes for example.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

It's this behaviour which is stealing capacity from our roads.

No it doesn't, capacity is determined by all lanes, once offside lanes start becoming saturated, the lanes to the nearside start getting busier - peak flow comes at a lower speed than the national speed limit, the actual figure will depend a lot on driver gap acceptance, the proportion of large vehicles, geography, weather, glare from sunlight etc, but would be somewhere in the 30-40mph range.

 

[Domh245]

It seems that the Great British Public cannot process a 4-lane motorway. Much of the time, lanes 3 and 4 are the busiest. Regularly on the M1 from MK to Hemel Hempsted, the best lane for overtaking will be lane 1 as it gets so little use. I can only assume that the halfwits hogging lane 3 or 4 are either insecure and feel that they have to stay in an "overtaking" lane (a misnomer) or they're just idiots and have forgotten "keep left unless overtaking".

Is that not because of the stupidly large number of trucks in lane 1, and the occasional truck in lane 2 overtaking someone with a speed difference of about 2mph at most. When I drove up to Nottingham from London in mid January, I spent a lot of time in Lanes 3 & 4 simply because there was rarely a break in the traffic in Lane 2 worth going into.