howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Courtesy of the Dover Express website.
Readers might be interested to hear that I spoke about this very matter to representatives of the Highways Agency only last week. I suggested that the imposition of the 40MPH limit on the A20 into Dover - supposedly as a safety measure to stop speeding drivers running into the back of the lorry queue the few times that we have Operation TAP - was causing much resentment locally. Motorists were being fined for exceeding the limit on days when the carriageways were completely clear, whilst others, keeping to this rather arbitrary speed limit, were being tail-gated by foreign registered lorries who knew they could flout the limits with impunity. Meanwhile many local drivers, myself included, were using the old A20 into Dover where we could keep up a much higher speed before clogging up the Folkestone Road with extra traffic. I suggested that the obvious solution was a variable speed limit which would only come into play when necessary i.e. when lorries were backed up onto the M20. He attempted to explain that the Highways Agency had not had the necessary technology (sic) and they also had to be mindful of what signage was put in so as not to ruin an Area Of Outstanding Natural Beauty (I kid you not). I told him that it was absolutely pathetic to think that in 2015 such 'advanced' technology was not available even if it involved a man in a van just going down the A20 and switching the signs 'on' when needed and that his organisation was an absolute joke. He assured me that Highways Agency are now on top of the matter and a variable speed limit should be in force by Easter. I can only presume that highly skilled technicians are installing on/off switches on the signs as I write. I am not holding my breath! Bob Frost (Cllr)
Guest 977- Registered: 27 Jun 2013
- Posts: 1,031
I had a similar conversation with him.
It's the same guy who assured parish and town councillors that closing the laybys on the A2 bypass wouldn't cause a problem with lorries parking elsewhere as there would only be 3 places lost in each of the 4 laybys and the lorries would simply move on to Canterbury - we knew that lorries park all over the laybys and access lanes so you sometimes get 7 or 8 in each layby, and they would simply look for free parking anywhere nearby, which they now do causing immense problems in the villages which Highways England know about but do little to help.
Rant over on that one - he told me also that when DHB sense they need to switch TAP on they phone Highways England for permission, then if they get it they send someone (not necessarily a highly skilled technician as Bob Frost says but just someone with a finger) with a key to the roadside cabinet to push a button. When I pointed out that is 19th Century technology and asked haven't they got anything better he walked away without saying anything.
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,895
Thinking of this road and others, I wonder how many times the Highways Agency are in part responsible for problems or even accidents when some highly paid idiot sitting behind a desk miles away and no local knowledge comes up with some ridiculous traffic plan.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 977- Registered: 27 Jun 2013
- Posts: 1,031
Quite often Jan, even by their own admission!
Going back to the layby closures, that work also involved removing the lights for the whole A2 bypass and only replacing them at the junctions with new LED lights (cheaper to run). They said this would result in a 12.5% increase in RTC personal injures, which they deemed acceptable on a cost/analysis basis.
When I said that might be financially acceptable but was morally unacceptable, I got the usual blank look and lets move on to the next item.
Worse still, when I did a FOI request to get the independent risk assessment which they had used to justify their actions, the increase in personal injury rates was 35%, but they didn't like that figure so they ignored it!
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
It has been said before on here and elsewhere that decisions on traffic matters should be made locally not by someone looking at a computer print out. I have lost count of the number of times there has been an accident on the A258 Dover/Deal road usually bydrivers pulling out of side roads or overtaking too close to a bend. Others will have their favourite black spots.
I might just add that personal injuries should not form part of a cost/analysis.
Guest 977- Registered: 27 Jun 2013
- Posts: 1,031
They definitely do - this is from the 'Design Manual for Roads and Bridges TA/49/07'
4.1 This Chapter describes how to determine the
darkness personal injury accident (PIA) saving on the
strategic road network for use in appraisal. It is
important to note that any figures given in this Chapter
are derived from national statistics and are only suitable
for economic appraisal . They should not be used for
any other purpose. (my bold).
Unfortunately I can't give a link as when the Highways Agency moved from being a government agency to a government owned limited company all my saved links became redundant and a lot of the useful info is hard to find or doesn't exist on their new website.
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,895
The above from Ray is a well known and in my opinion a disgusting policy.
All to often minor accidents are a prelude to someone either suffering from a life changing accident or a tragic loss of life.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
Reginald Barrington
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 17 Dec 2014
- Posts: 3,259
So we don't have enough police officers, this stretch is covered by cameras, could they not find something better to do than waste tax payers money, some desk bound idiot must have thought that was a good use of resources. Or perhaps we don't have a shortage of traffic officers and the constant whinging about cuts is just playing politics!
Arte et Marte
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
the bright idea came from government kcc highways.speak to Charlie the mp about it.
2,what traffic cops we got 6 covering a 24 hour period,have a word with Charlie the mp..
I hope you haven't got a clown phobia.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
I doubt there is a shortage of traffic police as they are revenue gatherers, as for the rest there seems enough of them when someone holds a demonstration.
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
police from other forces on overtime howard.
Reginald Barrington- Location: Dover
- Registered: 17 Dec 2014
- Posts: 3,259
He stopped taking my calls when I called him names over his attitude to bedroom tax, basically told me tough if there is no 2bed properties thus I cannot move or avoid paying.
Arte et Marte
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
yes reg i know what you meen,he cant tell the difference between a polyclinic and a proper hospital.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Coming through Capel earlier looking up to see all the trucks on the A20 at a standstill it occurred to me that time must be running out for a lot of British and Western European hauliers. When they quote for a job they would work on the time it would normally take for a round trip, the extra driver's hours must impact on any profit they make, assuming that they are making a profit under these circumstances. Should this carry on indefinitely it will just leave the Eastern European hauliers with their much lower wages and subsistence payments with a clear run.
Andy B
- Location: dover
- Registered: 10 Nov 2012
- Posts: 1,820
Its nearly all Eastern european trucks on our roads now.