Not so smart motorway

If you are unfortunate enough to have to use a “refuge”, here is something the planners never considered – how do you safely rejoin once your problem has been fixed.

With a hard shoulder it was relatively simple. You stayed on the hard shoulder until your vehicle was travelling at a speed which allowed you to rejoin the nearside lane.

It is impossible to exit from a “refuge” without putting yourself and others at risk. You have feet in which to accelerate up to the same speed. Impossible.

During the summer I found myself having to use a refuge on the M25. The only way I got out was down to several lorries moving over when they saw me indicating.

That kindness took some waiting for. Be warned.

And don’t even get me started on how it works with four lanes into two, over Tinsley viaduct, then back to four. I bet the “smart signs” never get above 40mph into the viaduct. Yep, really smart.

John Beeston

Killamarsh