Plastic Police

Coming home from work,sat in a slow moving traffic jam on M 27. 1 hour later passed a small shunt in 'fast' lane. Plastic police ,sorry 'Highways Agency traffic Officers',had coned off 2 lanes whilst waiting for wrecker trucks,causing several miles of tailback.
Thought to myself,Why didn't they just tow damaged vehicles to hard shoulder with their 4x4 and let traffic flow, then noticed their 4x4 were Jap. Obviously not up to job.Give them Landy's and let the traffic flow.

Tonic

There has been a big thing about them towing stuff out the way as people complained that they did more damage to the vehicle.

Also a lot of companies now will insist on at least lane one being closed down depending on how much work the company have to do to make the vehicle movable again so the quickest way is usualy to leave it wear it is.

The other side of it is half of them dont get trained in the use of a 4x4 and how to use low box etc and how to effect a recovery. A pain in the arse have been there and had to move one for them when the police turned up I said do you want it out the way and the traffic guy said if it will move move it so I did.

I agree is a pain the rear but thats legistlation for you but considering some of the preivous jobs these guys have had I would not let them near my truck to move it at all they just dont have the background or experience to do it sorry to say. A bit of training would go a long way but hey ho.

If you ever want a scary experience you want to try being on your knees in lane 3 dealing with a casualty, I was fine till I looked up and saw a lorry go past, good job I had not long been the loo or I could have been in a bit of a mess lol worse than any roller coaster I have ever been on

By the way the my L200 has only ever been transported once in its 6 year life and that was by another L200 but it has a tally of Landys that it has helped along the way lol oh and a quad lol and a hedge

Dont get me started on the Wombles. I was late for the pub meet in Hamble last week due to a 2 car shunt. Everyday I'm stuck in something or other due to a road being coned of. I have to work on a Motorway with trucks and cars whizzing past my ear. I could ask for a lane to be closed down, but by the time this is done you could spend an hour on the hard shoulder. So if it aint a quick fix its dragged off to destination or for a safe repair. I have to think about the safety of my customer as well as my own.
I have lost count of the run ins I have had with the wombles and have even had to order new name badges(velcro ones) as when asked I have given them my name Nice when they they say you cant do something and you an just ignore them. Wait a while they will be getting power's.
Tony
ps sorry for the rant

tonic wrote:

Thought to myself,Why didn't they just tow damaged vehicles to hard shoulder with their 4x4 and let traffic flow, then noticed their 4x4 were Jap. Obviously not up to job.Give them Landy's and let the traffic flow.

Having spoke to a couple of these guys they do seem to prefer there Disco3's

And yes they do have 4x4 training, Legislation eh? I know a guy that trains them and was told they have to have 4x4 training because they have to use the motorway shortcuts(you know official vehicles only ones )you can get round these in a Pajero so they cant be that bad can they
I admit most of the time its the just doing my job syndrome but jez common sense should prevail.
The faster the M/way is clear the there has to be less chance of more accidents?
Tony

I know of a HA officer that does the M3 M27 and he told me they have cctv in the cabs now to report to big brother if they apply common sense rather than following "the rules"

WTF has this country come to? We used to rule the world, now we cower in case big brother spots us picking our noses.

haha

talking to my new found friends the AA, the recovery guy was telling me, now if your broken on the motorway, your recovered to a safe place, the road side assistance man comes along, goes cant fix it, (sometimes they can) but then you put back on the home recovery list!!!!

so thats half hour waiting for recovery, the waiting for the "fixer" and then how ever long till recovery comes bck!!! all thanks to the highway agents, and health and safety,

knowing my gearboxs was fooked yesterday he took me straight home! and "text" in to the desk what he was doing, but thats fooking ridiculous, because hes not a mechanic even though he would know whats roadside fixable or not the road side assist guy has to come look!!!!