Having recently driven to Krakow via mid Germany and returned via Dresden and Dortmund I was really impressed with the way in which German autobahns flow despite being as crowded as ours, and with many sections only two lane. The reason for this is that HGVs, trailers and caravans are often restricted to the inside lane with no overtaking allowed. Sometimes there were long sections where restrictions were permanently applied for set hours such as 0600-1900, or where there were overhead electronic signs the HGV, trailer and caravan traffic was managed depending on weather or traffic numbers. The restrictions could last for several miles, one restricted length was nearly 25 miles. The net result is that the cars, coaches and vans etc could move along more smoothly without being confronted by a rolling road block of trucks that is so common on our motorways. Also with the slower traffic not being allowed to overtake you did not get the rippling snake backs that affect UK motorways often caused by a truck suddenly moving into lane 2.
Anyone who has travelled on the M42/A42 or M6 north of Birmingham will know how disruptive the HGVs can be. In such routes I will often just sit in lane 1 and go with the flow as trying to keep overtaking with a 4mph differential is a bit of a no-no and it plays havoc with fuel consumption too.
With our plethora of overhead signs UK could, and should, introduce more active traffic managment which would speed up car/light vehicle journeys, have minimal effect on HGV,trailer or caravan journey times and hence improve overall utilisation of the motoway asset. It might even reduce accidents too!
I will now don my helmet and retreat!!
Anyone who has travelled on the M42/A42 or M6 north of Birmingham will know how disruptive the HGVs can be. In such routes I will often just sit in lane 1 and go with the flow as trying to keep overtaking with a 4mph differential is a bit of a no-no and it plays havoc with fuel consumption too.
With our plethora of overhead signs UK could, and should, introduce more active traffic managment which would speed up car/light vehicle journeys, have minimal effect on HGV,trailer or caravan journey times and hence improve overall utilisation of the motoway asset. It might even reduce accidents too!
I will now don my helmet and retreat!!