A630 Parkway Upgrade Works

[DT Ralge]

On 07/02/2021 at 09:11, Resident said:

That slip is ~975ft long. For reference the slip at J33 for M1 North is ~1005ft, so less than a bus lengths difference. Vehicles joining the parkway are visible for the last 550ft of that and should be anticipating joining traffic.

There is nothing wrong with the junction or is layout. What we have here is a driver issue, both the joining driver refusing to put the accelerator down & the driver already on the carriageway and failing to anticipate joining traffic and being prepared for the situation.

Other than being repaired, we don't need better roads, we need better drivers. 

"we need better drivers" - I agree.

To prove that your view of joining such a road is not just macho, gung-ho and simplistic, you'll be able to put in writing what you would tell a novice driver to do on this slip-road.  It is, after all, just a short drive from the DVSA test centre.

- what speed to get to before merging, if there is an optimum speed.

- does this vary and how would you know?

- what gear would you recommend to be in for flexibility and responsiveness prior to merging?

- how would you guide the pupil through his/her lack of vision on the carriageway until quite late on?

- how much time do you have at the end to merge at the speed you recommend.  Is it sometimes better to have a little more time than a minimum and to be able to respond flexibly to the road and traffic conditions?  How would you know?

- how would would you advise your novice when following another vehicle up the slip road ( a car, a van, a truck)

- what is their speed limit or acceleration pattern/power?

Edited February 8, 2021 by DT Ralge

[Resident]

19 hours ago, DT Ralge said:

"we need better drivers" - I agree.

To prove that your view of joining such a road is not just macho, gung-ho and simplistic, you'll be able to put in writing what you would tell a novice driver to do on this slip-road.  It is, after all, just a short drive from the DVSA test centre.

- what speed to get to before merging, if there is an optimum speed.

- does this vary and how would you know?

- what gear would you recommend to be in for flexibility and responsiveness prior to merging?

- how would you guide the pupil through his/her lack of vision on the carriageway until quite late on?

- how much time do you have at the end to merge at the speed you recommend.  Is it sometimes better to have a little more time than a minimum and to be able to respond flexibly to the road and traffic conditions?  How would you know?

- how would would you advise your novice when following another vehicle up the slip road ( a car, a van, a truck)

- what is their speed limit or acceleration pattern/power?

All would have been taught by a competant driving instructor. Sadly these days they seem to be thin on the ground, teaching just enough to pass the test and not teaching to drive. 

 

[DT Ralge]

On 09/02/2021 at 11:19, Resident said:

All would have been taught by a competant driving instructor. Sadly these days they seem to be thin on the ground, teaching just enough to pass the test and not teaching to drive. 

 

You may or may not be right about "teaching to pass" - but that's quite a sweeping statement on ADI competence levels.   That's based on your personal knowledge of just how many ADI's?

From where I'm stood, I can take an informed view. Maybe you can, too.  I note, though, that on the subject of "joining dual-carriageways" you have backed away from answering my "what would you teach?" question.

Edited February 10, 2021 by DT Ralge