Evacuation from a closed dual carriageway - interesting
Discussion
First time this has ever happened to me in 47 years of driving, so I thought it might be of interest to some.
This Saturday afternoon I drove on to the A14 heading east near Kettering. A mile or so past the next junction, the traffic ground to a halt as emergency vehicles came down an extra centre lane, created by the two lanes parting to each side. We were probably about a mile from the incident - could just about see lots of blue lights in the distance and we saw what must have been the air ambulance circling before going in to land.
It soon became clear that the other carriageway had also been stopped, and a few people started to cross the road and head into the bushes for ‘natural breaks’. Children started playing on the empty road, dogs were walked and I watched the cup final on my phone - assuming that even Cycling Mikey would be OK with that.
It looked like one or two cars well behind us were turning into the centre of the road and heading back even at that point. I imagined they could well be in for a world of pain when reaching the junction!
At the end of the cup final, it started to rain, and a convoy of motorcycles at slow speed with hazard flashers on came down the ‘centre lane’. I assumed that, quite sensibly, the Police at the scene had given them permission to head back to the junction with caution. I announced to my passengers that I would go for a short walk, as my legs had seized up. We had probably been there for about two hours at that point.
I walked towards the incident, but deliberately turned back before getting close enough to see anything - I’ve no desire to intrude on others misfortune/disaster. On walking back, some of the cars were starting to turn. Getting back to ours I was very much in two minds what to do, but the herd instinct became too much eventually, and I joined in - concluding that this couldn’t be happening without some sort of official actions at both ends of the queue (my wife was convinced that I wouldn’t move
).
I was still a bit concerned for my driving licence, but we soon came across a couple of HATOs marshalling everyone and I relaxed. At the slip road, some more HATOs had stopped the traffic leaving the A14 at the point it was blocked, and were giving priority to the clearing section. Traffic was moving well up the slip road and we followed diversion signs that eventually took us back on to the A14.
So all in all, quite a well-handled operation in my opinion. There must have been a lot of decisions to be made and actions to be taken that meant we arrived home in reasonable time and in good health (we had a couple of octogenarian relatives in the car with us, for whom too long a wait might have proved problematic).
I personally would have liked a bit more information, as I felt more than a bit uncomfortable heading in the wrong direction towards who knows what, but I guess if the operation had been initiated at both ends, it was reasonable to assume that everyone would guess what was going on. A few people in cars didn’t move, and getting the LGVs out must have been quite a task, but I assume that the HATOs are there to help in tidying up at the very end.
This Saturday afternoon I drove on to the A14 heading east near Kettering. A mile or so past the next junction, the traffic ground to a halt as emergency vehicles came down an extra centre lane, created by the two lanes parting to each side. We were probably about a mile from the incident - could just about see lots of blue lights in the distance and we saw what must have been the air ambulance circling before going in to land.
It soon became clear that the other carriageway had also been stopped, and a few people started to cross the road and head into the bushes for ‘natural breaks’. Children started playing on the empty road, dogs were walked and I watched the cup final on my phone - assuming that even Cycling Mikey would be OK with that.
It looked like one or two cars well behind us were turning into the centre of the road and heading back even at that point. I imagined they could well be in for a world of pain when reaching the junction!
At the end of the cup final, it started to rain, and a convoy of motorcycles at slow speed with hazard flashers on came down the ‘centre lane’. I assumed that, quite sensibly, the Police at the scene had given them permission to head back to the junction with caution. I announced to my passengers that I would go for a short walk, as my legs had seized up. We had probably been there for about two hours at that point.
I walked towards the incident, but deliberately turned back before getting close enough to see anything - I’ve no desire to intrude on others misfortune/disaster. On walking back, some of the cars were starting to turn. Getting back to ours I was very much in two minds what to do, but the herd instinct became too much eventually, and I joined in - concluding that this couldn’t be happening without some sort of official actions at both ends of the queue (my wife was convinced that I wouldn’t move
).I was still a bit concerned for my driving licence, but we soon came across a couple of HATOs marshalling everyone and I relaxed. At the slip road, some more HATOs had stopped the traffic leaving the A14 at the point it was blocked, and were giving priority to the clearing section. Traffic was moving well up the slip road and we followed diversion signs that eventually took us back on to the A14.
So all in all, quite a well-handled operation in my opinion. There must have been a lot of decisions to be made and actions to be taken that meant we arrived home in reasonable time and in good health (we had a couple of octogenarian relatives in the car with us, for whom too long a wait might have proved problematic).
I personally would have liked a bit more information, as I felt more than a bit uncomfortable heading in the wrong direction towards who knows what, but I guess if the operation had been initiated at both ends, it was reasonable to assume that everyone would guess what was going on. A few people in cars didn’t move, and getting the LGVs out must have been quite a task, but I assume that the HATOs are there to help in tidying up at the very end.
There was something similar on the M4 last year. I was headed East near Bristol but there was a load of hay on fire in the middle of the other side of the carriageway. I could see the Police turning people around and guiding vehicles from the back of the queue up towards the Bath junction which they had closed off. First time in 25 years of driving where I've seen that done.
McGee_22 said:
Similar on the A3 past Guildford a few years ago.
I got caught there going Eastbound a few years ago, a fatal pile up at the Ripley turn off. I was stuck for about 3 hours close to the Clay Lane slip road. Eventually the police started sending everyone the wrong way down the slip, but once at the junction at Clay Lane there were no coppers in sight, it was absolute chaos, took me half an hour just to turned right and head towards Woking. I was not impressed to be honest, but I guess they may have had more important stuff to do at the scene of the accident.I had it on the m25 over Easter. To send people down the queue requires more man power and the a14 of a lot more rural so I can imagine they just didn't have the work force to tell you the plan (we got told within half an hour but were there for another 3). What was clear was how much extra work was involved in stopping people who'd turned back early and tried to squeeze up the hard shoulder/ Central reservation Craig into the people the police were turning around in their turn.
A very long time ago I got caught up in a couple of closed motorway situations where workmen, with Police assistance, unbolted a section of the central reservation crash barrier that was over a short tarmaced area and allowed us to turn round onto the opposite carriageway. I assume such things wouldn't be allowed now.
On the M56 heading towards Chester (10 years ago?), there was an incident which closed the motorway. The police removed some sections of the armco barrier between the carriageways so the cars could then exit via the gap, but you went the right way down the opposite carriageway (i.e. heading towards Manchester). Then you had to find your own alternative way home.
But, here's the thing: All the police needed to do was unbolt the sections and lift them out the way. But now, most motorway carriageways, those unboltable metal barriers have been replaced by huge concrete ones. If it had been like that now, that option to take the cars central reservation would not be possible.
But, here's the thing: All the police needed to do was unbolt the sections and lift them out the way. But now, most motorway carriageways, those unboltable metal barriers have been replaced by huge concrete ones. If it had been like that now, that option to take the cars central reservation would not be possible.
Wills2 said:
Odd that they enacted it but didn't bother to tell/instruct anyone and just relied upon herd mentality.
No, they put a full closure on behind them they go to the rear most trapped vehicles and start turning them It's marshalled but mostly self regulating except for big stuff
The junction they are being taken off at will also be controlled
Got stuck for over an hour on the A1M heading south a few months ago, the natural break the op mentioned became rather urgent so I left my car in the outside lane and ran up to the bushes whilst hoping the traffic didn’t start moving.
Must of been at least a dozen drivers did the same , were all of us waiting for the first one to make a move ?
Must of been at least a dozen drivers did the same , were all of us waiting for the first one to make a move ?
Wills2 said:
Odd that they enacted it but didn't bother to tell/instruct anyone and just relied upon herd mentality.
I think that being right in the middle I was maybe just in the wrong place for information. As Earthdweller suggests, they would have started clearing from the back, but possibly once they realised it was going well, they deliberately started turning people away from the (probably unpleasant) scene at the front - particularly as there was an easy route out between the two traffic lanes.Everyone behaved very amicably, giving people plenty of time to turn etc.
Earthdweller said:
Wills2 said:
Odd that they enacted it but didn't bother to tell/instruct anyone and just relied upon herd mentality.
No, they put a full closure on behind them they go to the rear most trapped vehicles and start turning them It's marshalled but mostly self regulating except for big stuff
The junction they are being taken off at will also be controlled
Years ago I got stuck on Citylink in Melbourne because a jumper had gone under a truck.
Citylink has concrete barriers on each side with no way to cross over but they have emergency access gates on the outside edge every so often. We were all turned round and sent down the hard shoulder to the nearest gate, which spat us out in the back streets of one of the suburbs the road runs through. The residents must have wondered where all the traffic was coming from!
Citylink has concrete barriers on each side with no way to cross over but they have emergency access gates on the outside edge every so often. We were all turned round and sent down the hard shoulder to the nearest gate, which spat us out in the back streets of one of the suburbs the road runs through. The residents must have wondered where all the traffic was coming from!
Once got stuck for around 2hrs on the M1, I was on my way to a festival in a car with no ac in a heatwave.
Passengers all got out of the cars and were sunning themselves on the grass bank but I had only passed my test, fearing for my licence I stayed in the car cooking with barely a breeze through the windows and direct sun through the front, and of course a car loaded with drinks but only of the alcoholic variety!
Was so dehydrated when we arrived 2 drinks and I was too pissed to put up the tent!
Passengers all got out of the cars and were sunning themselves on the grass bank but I had only passed my test, fearing for my licence I stayed in the car cooking with barely a breeze through the windows and direct sun through the front, and of course a car loaded with drinks but only of the alcoholic variety!
Was so dehydrated when we arrived 2 drinks and I was too pissed to put up the tent!
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