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Motorway madness in the name of progress

29th May 2017
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In the past 10 years or so we have seen a proliferation of matrix gantries across the motorway netwrok and they are now spreading onto trunk routes.

At the time they seemed like a really good idea, displaying useful information of road closures, delays and forthcoming events likely to cause mayhem in a particular locale.

Fast forward 10 years and what do we have :

To J6  2 miles , 2 minutes   - really useful indeed as I can see the traffic moving nicely

Queue after junction - really ?

A406 closed westbound at M1 - but I am 100 miles away and it will be open in 20 minutes (even I don't drive that fast )

AND what about the missing events, which in all honesty are the biggest bugbear : Accidents 5 miles ahead ( with help on scene already so it isn't new) and no warning . Night time closures of a motorway 100 miles ahead but highly likely many people are heading there , and not a peep.

Let's not get started on the variable speed stuff , which is a good idea but appears to be somewhat random at times.

Are the people who decide what to display and when to display it actually answerable to anybody ? More to the point what are the criteira for deciding what to display ?

"Frustrated - take a break at next services "

 

Replies (5)

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By Knight Rider
30th May 2017 09:41

Most useless of all 'FOG'

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Replying to Knight Rider:
Norman Younger
By Norman Younger
30th May 2017 10:59

At least it is short and to the point !

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By cbp99
01st Jun 2017 09:54

I agree - total waste of money. I have yet to see a notice that gave me any useful information. Keep meaning to find out who (which authority) is spending on the non Highways Agency ones.

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By alan.rolfe
01st Jun 2017 16:47

My favourite is the colourful electronic gantry sign that sometimes shows a red triangle with a car on its roof.

Makes me grateful I'm not having a day that bad!!

Mind you, I never seem to see a car on its roof, despite the sign... fortunately. Maybe it means something else? Australian driver ahead?

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Replying to alan.rolfe:
Norman Younger
By Norman Younger
01st Jun 2017 23:47

The upturned car always brings a smile to my face simply because it is probably the only matrix detail that is not open to misinterpretation although the initial sight makes one fear that somebody is seriously hurt.

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