EdwardL
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Pardon the long post - and you don't have to read it all lol
This morning we were travelling up the M5 taking our son to view a university when the traffic just stopped. About 30 cars ahead (or around 100 vehicles in all three lanes) was one police car that had stopped the traffic.
After a minute or so it was clear that nothing was going to move for ages so we switched off the engine and waited. A few minutes later we noticed that the opposite carriageway's traffic had stopped coming past. Then a police car came down it at 100mph+. Then another. And soon after they whipped around the junction behind us and came up the hard shoulder.
We must have arrived on the scene within a minute of the original police car stopping the traffic and a good half dozen, maybe 10 more appeared in the later 15-20 minutes. The traffic news told us a car had gone on to the embankment and hit a bridge. A couple of fire engines turned up. Then an air ambulance landed.
Then two more fire engines and a paramedic. Then one or two unmarked police cars.
We were stuck for a good half hour or so and people started to get out of their cars and stretch their legs. Then one or two walked up to the front of the traffic queue, presumably to rubber neck. We were on our phones, searching for updates and news but couldn't see anything and fearing a) for the driver/passengers and b) that our day would have to be cancelled and if we'd be stuck there for many hours. Never been in that situation before and we'd mentally started writing letters on how the situation could be improved.
Then about an hour later, 15 minutes or so after the helicopter had departed, the other carriageway was opened by a rolling road block at around 40mph. About 5 minutes later the traffic was coming past at heavy motorway speeds (60ish).
Then, amazingly, we started to move. I was thinking that the police would want to take more evidence and hold us up for longer but they opened one lane. Traffic approaching the junction behind us was diverted off the motorway and the cars we were with were "released". Interestingly, they stop the traffic about 1/2 mile before the accident, partly for the air ambulance but also to prevent photographs and rubber necking.
Okay, we were delayed but the poor man is still alive, in hospital, and the rest of us had an inconvenience. I felt for those who might have had an elderly relative or child needing the loo but I couldn't believe that the police just wanted us to be on our way again. I always thought they wanted as many cars on the motorway as possible to prevent them clogging up other roads.
Also, life is put into perspective sometimes - that poor chap, quite apart from his injuries - short or long term - will probably be interviewed by the police and might be taken to court for dangerous or careless driving, and his insurance will hit the rocket burners and all sorts.
As a final note - the lasting impression I had apart from the totally wrecked car was a policeman photographing the wheel mark on the kerb about 100 yards before the car came to rest - and our son's degree he'll be studying? Forensic science!
Just wondering if anyone else has been really stuck with a motorway closure. Once you're "trapped" there's absolutely nothing you can do about it. You can't turn round or anything - you're just totally stuck and have no idea how long it might be till you can get going. Or has anyone been stuck for hours and hours?
(Let the thread ramble if you want
)
This morning we were travelling up the M5 taking our son to view a university when the traffic just stopped. About 30 cars ahead (or around 100 vehicles in all three lanes) was one police car that had stopped the traffic.
After a minute or so it was clear that nothing was going to move for ages so we switched off the engine and waited. A few minutes later we noticed that the opposite carriageway's traffic had stopped coming past. Then a police car came down it at 100mph+. Then another. And soon after they whipped around the junction behind us and came up the hard shoulder.
We must have arrived on the scene within a minute of the original police car stopping the traffic and a good half dozen, maybe 10 more appeared in the later 15-20 minutes. The traffic news told us a car had gone on to the embankment and hit a bridge. A couple of fire engines turned up. Then an air ambulance landed.
Then two more fire engines and a paramedic. Then one or two unmarked police cars.
We were stuck for a good half hour or so and people started to get out of their cars and stretch their legs. Then one or two walked up to the front of the traffic queue, presumably to rubber neck. We were on our phones, searching for updates and news but couldn't see anything and fearing a) for the driver/passengers and b) that our day would have to be cancelled and if we'd be stuck there for many hours. Never been in that situation before and we'd mentally started writing letters on how the situation could be improved.
Then about an hour later, 15 minutes or so after the helicopter had departed, the other carriageway was opened by a rolling road block at around 40mph. About 5 minutes later the traffic was coming past at heavy motorway speeds (60ish).
Then, amazingly, we started to move. I was thinking that the police would want to take more evidence and hold us up for longer but they opened one lane. Traffic approaching the junction behind us was diverted off the motorway and the cars we were with were "released". Interestingly, they stop the traffic about 1/2 mile before the accident, partly for the air ambulance but also to prevent photographs and rubber necking.
Okay, we were delayed but the poor man is still alive, in hospital, and the rest of us had an inconvenience. I felt for those who might have had an elderly relative or child needing the loo but I couldn't believe that the police just wanted us to be on our way again. I always thought they wanted as many cars on the motorway as possible to prevent them clogging up other roads.
Also, life is put into perspective sometimes - that poor chap, quite apart from his injuries - short or long term - will probably be interviewed by the police and might be taken to court for dangerous or careless driving, and his insurance will hit the rocket burners and all sorts.
As a final note - the lasting impression I had apart from the totally wrecked car was a policeman photographing the wheel mark on the kerb about 100 yards before the car came to rest - and our son's degree he'll be studying? Forensic science!
Just wondering if anyone else has been really stuck with a motorway closure. Once you're "trapped" there's absolutely nothing you can do about it. You can't turn round or anything - you're just totally stuck and have no idea how long it might be till you can get going. Or has anyone been stuck for hours and hours?
(Let the thread ramble if you want
)
