Not So Smart Motorways

[Chekhov]

11 minutes ago, HeHasRisen said:

Well, technically its a NSL road but yes, to most vehicles using it that is 70mph. You make a fair point.

So on this thread we have someone who is seriously considering NOT using the M1 smart motorway, which is monitored by cameras, and instead will go and use the A1, which between Ferrybridge and north of Doncaster (Adwick) is a normal A road, with minimal camera coverage compared to the M1 smart sections, and NO hard shoulder as far as I can remember.

Is this any safer? If anything it sounds worse! Both roads have refuge areas (laybys or bays) at least. But one road isnt being heavily monitored, with signage.

Unusually HHR I agree with you. I'm not sure why but I still don't like Smart motorways in the ".default all lane running form", but I cannot see any reason why they cannot be used as 4 lane running with a 60mph, or even 50mph, limit. There is even less argument to made against that.

[Anna B]

3 hours ago, Chekhov said:

It's risk v benefit.

Using ones stairs is dangerous, statistically, but people have them because it is convenient to have another floor of living accommodation ! Personally I do not want to sit in a  massive queue on the M1 when there is an unused lane over to my left.

Remember dual carriageways (e.g. the A1) have no hard shoulder and still have a 70mph limit.

Motorways being worked on have a 50mph limit (in fact hasn't it been raised to 60mph ? ) and no hard shoulder either. Thus I cannot see why opening the hard shoulder to traffic subject to a 50mph limit could be considered more dangerous.

 

 

The Hard shoulder is not an 'unused lane,' it's there for a purpose. Apart from breakdowns it also allows emergency vehicles to access accidents etc. quickly. When there's an accident / incident the traffic clogs up very quickly. You don't want the ambulance or fire brigade stuck at the back waiting in traffic along with everyone else...

 

 

[alchresearch]

2 minutes ago, Anna B said:

 You don't want the ambulance or fire brigade stuck at the back waiting in traffic along with everyone else...

 

They wouldn't be.  They often approach an accident the "wrong" way down the motorway towards the accident from the next junction on if the police have closed the motorway and halted all traffic.

[PRESLEY]

I have always preferred the A1 over the years and because of this smart or should I say, unsmart buisness I will remain to do so.

[HeHasRisen]

4 minutes ago, PRESLEY said:

I have always preferred the A1 over the years and because of this smart or should I say, unsmart buisness I will remain to do so.

What happens if you break down in the fast lane of the A1 near Wentbridge (just north of Doncaster)? There arent as many gantries above the road to get the lane shut off like on most of the M1 down to Sheffield. That isnt safer by any definition.

Edited April 18, 2023 by HeHasRisen

[PRESLEY]

1 minute ago, HeHasRisen said:

What happens if you break down in the fast lane of the A1 near Wentbridge (just north of Doncaster)? There are no gantries above the road to get the lane shut off like on most of the M1 down to Sheffield. That isnt safer by any definition.

To be honest,  I should have mentioned that not I'm not a big user of both motorways and have only used the A1 southbound and that is a rare occasion so I'm not familiar with the area you mentioned.

[HeHasRisen]

4 minutes ago, PRESLEY said:

To be honest,  I should have mentioned that not I'm not a big user of both motorways and have only used the A1 southbound and that is a rare occasion so I'm not familiar with the area you mentioned.

From memory as per my earlier post the stretch between Ferrybridge (where the A1 joins the M62) and Adwick (north of Doncaster) is a dual carriageway with no hard shoulder and no regular gantries/camera coverage. To my mind this cant be considered safer than a smart motorway, which at least has regular gantries and camera coverage.

 

Pretty sure the A1 from the M18 down to the Lincoln turnoff has no hard shoulder for most of it either.

Edited April 18, 2023 by HeHasRisen

[Guest makapaka]

25 minutes ago, HeHasRisen said:

From memory as per my earlier post the stretch between Ferrybridge (where the A1 joins the M62) and Adwick (north of Doncaster) is a dual carriageway with no hard shoulder and no regular gantries/camera coverage. To my mind this cant be considered safer than a smart motorway, which at least has regular gantries and camera coverage.

 

Pretty sure the A1 from the M18 down to the Lincoln turnoff has no hard shoulder for most of it either.

So the A1 should be improved?

[PRESLEY]

24 minutes ago, HeHasRisen said:

From memory as per my earlier post the stretch between Ferrybridge (where the A1 joins the M62) and Adwick (north of Doncaster) is a dual carriageway with no hard shoulder and no regular gantries/camera coverage. To my mind this cant be considered safer than a smart motorway, which at least has regular gantries and camera coverage.

 

Pretty sure the A1 from the M18 down to the Lincoln turnoff has no hard shoulder for most of it either.

To be fair, its still not as bad as the M1.

[Meltman]

Most of the A1 is just a dual carriageway road and the national speed limits apply, the same as many other stretches of duel carriageway in the UK. This means there are turn offs, field gates  roundabouts, food places and fuel stations as in any other duel carriageway. Some sections of the A1 have been upgraded to motorways (A1 (M)) designation and the above ",hazards, " have been removed but they don’t have a designated hard shoulder and gantries with cameras, such as can be found on smart or 'ordinary ' motorways.  The sections of the A1  past Doncaster down to Blyth is to A1,,(M) standard . For what it's worth I always treat the A1, all sections  as a duel carriageway,  and I'm OK with that.