Police closing motorways again

codprawn · 17 September 2007, 17:28

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/6998191.stm

This was an extremely nasty accident - a car drove the wrong way down the motorway and hit another car head on - 5 dead.

The Police were chasing the Volvo before it turned the wrong way down the motorway - the Police then stopped the chase - bit late methinks. 2 innocent people in a Mondeo killed.

Yet again they found it neccesary to close off one of the busiest roads in the UK at rush hour. The accident happened at about 3am. It took them 8hrs to reopen the road. Quite why they had to close off BOTH sides is beyond me. it is pretty obvious what caused the accident - it's about time the Police got their priorities right!!!

peterb · 17 September 2007, 17:45

Totally agree. They seem to take delight in shutting roads and causing chaos.

Andy Moore · 17 September 2007, 17:59

Surely, they closed the road so that the accident investigators can investigate what happened.

Seeing as there were two fatalities, it seems decidedly reasonable to me that the road was closed.

codprawn · 17 September 2007, 20:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy Moore

Surely, they closed the road so that the accident investigators can investigate what happened.

Seeing as there were two fatalities, it seems decidedly reasonable to me that the road was closed.

No there were 5 deaths. It is pretty obvious what happened - the Police chased a car - it drove the WRONG WAY down the M4 and hit a car head on - what needs to be investigated??? Other than perhaps the original Police chase...........

MarkWildey · 17 September 2007, 20:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by peterb

Totally agree. They seem to take delight in shutting roads and causing chaos.

It's a shame there isn't a chin-scratcher icon on RibNet.

Andy Moore · 17 September 2007, 20:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

No there were 5 deaths. It is pretty obvious what happened - the Police chased a car - it drove the WRONG WAY down the M4 and hit a car head on - what needs to be investigated??? Other than perhaps the original Police chase...........

Well, I imagine they need to take photographs and measurements, don't you?
These things take time.

codprawn · 17 September 2007, 20:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy Moore

Well, I imagine they need to take photographs and measurements, don't you?
These things take time.

WHY???

The poor people are dead - it is patently obvious what the cause of the accident was. And why the hell close BOTH sides of the motorway???

Incidents like this can cause many other problems - people can die because ambulances can't get to emergencies etc because all the roads are clogged. People miss holidays - people miss job interviews - people miss court appointments - doctors can't get to work - the list is endless.

MarkWildey · 17 September 2007, 20:56

Do you really think the police closed the motorway just so they could ruin the day of Daily Mail readers.

I don't know the detail of what happened, nor does anyone here, other than what's been said in the press which is written to sell papers.

So 5 are people dead and here we have some experts on policing disgruntled that they couldn't get home to watch Emmerdale because the motorway has been shut.

peace!

DJL · 17 September 2007, 20:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

And why the hell close BOTH sides of the motorway???

'cause you get idiots rubbernecking and crashing on the otherside

codprawn · 17 September 2007, 21:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkWildey

Do you really think the police closed the motorway just so they could ruin the day of Daily Mail readers.

I don't know the detail of what happened, nor does anyone here, other than what's been said in the press which is written to sell papers.

So 5 are people dead and here we have some experts on policing disgruntled that they couldn't get home to watch Emmerdale because the motorway has been shut.

peace!

People often DIE when such major disruption is caused - imagine some poor sod having a heart attack but the ambulance can't get to him becuase of the gridlock - it happens - especially when there is such massive and major disruption. Just a little bit more important than Emmerdale eh???

codprawn · 17 September 2007, 21:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJL

'cause you get idiots rubbernecking and crashing on the otherside

Very true but parking the fire engines in the right place would stop them from seeing things.

Andy Moore · 17 September 2007, 21:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

People often DIE when such major disruption is caused - imagine some poor sod having a heart attack but the ambulance can't get to him becuase of the gridlock - it happens - especially when there is such massive and major disruption. Just a little bit more important than Emmerdale eh???

That's what the hard shoulder is for.

ed2 · 17 September 2007, 21:34

Two cars hitting head on. Both probably doing around (at least) 70mph. Therefore probably 140mph at least impact..

Not a lot left of the cars or people involved. Is it wise to let people see it on the other side of the road. I bet it was a horrible sight!

Dirk Diggler · 17 September 2007, 21:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

Yet again they found it neccesary to close off one of the busiest roads in the UK at rush hour.

What with this and the tax on fuel going up, you're really having a shit week!

Don't you have anything important to worry about?

MarkWildey · 17 September 2007, 21:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

People often DIE when such major disruption is caused - imagine some poor sod having a heart attack but the ambulance can't get to him becuase of the gridlock - it happens - especially when there is such massive and major disruption. Just a little bit more important than Emmerdale eh???

Actually on the plus side I'd rather someone has a heart attack at 5mph than 85mph

Poly · 17 September 2007, 23:07

Cod - the reason for a detailed accident investigation is fairly straight forward - if as you imply in your message the police were wilfully negligent in their pursuit then there is a potential manslaughter charge their against the relevant officers - such a charge would be difficult without all the correctly gathered legal evidence. There was also one surviver (I believe in the suspect vehicle) - and he may be subject to prosecution also. I can imagine your post here about police incompetence (or cover ups) in a years time when the prosecution collapses because the removed the evidence so as not to hold you up. So - wind your neck in and just be grateful you weren't heading down the m-way at 3am and suddenly meet something coming the other way.

codprawn · 18 September 2007, 02:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by ed2

Two cars hitting head on. Both probably doing around (at least) 70mph. Therefore probably 140mph at least impact..

Not a lot left of the cars or people involved. Is it wise to let people see it on the other side of the road. I bet it was a horrible sight!

Thats a very common misconception. The impact is NOT 140mph. A car hitting another car of similar mass each doing 70mph is the same as a single car hitting a concrete block at 70mph - the speeds cancel each other out.

bedajim · 18 September 2007, 05:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

Thats a very common misconception. The impact is NOT 140mph. A car hitting another car of similar mass each doing 70mph is the same as a single car hitting a concrete block at 70mph - the speeds cancel each other out.

If the speeds cancel each other out,would there be an impact?
or is it = to twice the mass at 70 mph hitting the block?

No idea just interested now long time since i pushed trolleys down ramps

alexm · 18 September 2007, 06:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

Thats a very common misconception. The impact is NOT 140mph. A car hitting another car of similar mass each doing 70mph is the same as a single car hitting a concrete block at 70mph - the speeds cancel each other out.

It might be true to say that from the perspective of one car the impact is equivalent to hitting an immovable mass at 70 mph however in the example of two cars each travelling at 70mph the relative closing speed IS 140 mph... that is to say that two cars heading towards each other at 70mph each will create the same impact as one car travelling at 140mph hitting the other car when it is stationary.

Jono · 18 September 2007, 06:46

Guys? You're all forgetting Matt's "Golden Rule"....