|
Most EU countries now accept hazard flashers as an acceptable alternative but suggest both should be used.
|
A warning triangle is not compulsory in the UK. However, it would probably be one piece of road use legislation that I would endorse.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
|
Most people in this country would rather run you down as you put the thing up unfortunately.
Ive collected stricken cars and you wear the jacket you have the lights on and you put cones or triangles down and they are just ignored so be careful if you ever need to use them.
Personally as said the best thing to keep in your boot is a flourescent jacket and a throwaway camera, these two things can be had for less than a £5.
|
|
Personally I think the Triangles are too small to be of any value in most road conditions.
|
IIRC it was once a legal requirement in Portugal to light a warning fire in the road a set distance behind a broken-down vehicle.
About 18 months ago I actually saw someone do that behind a broken-down lorry.
Triangle is a lot less bother. ;-)
|
|
Bus and lorry drivers used to lean a seat cushion against the back of the vehicle to indicate it had broken down, but that was a long time ago!
|
|
Probably get nicked now and appear on e-bay before you could say Roadside Assistance !
|
Funnily enough I saw one in use last late night - first time in ages - warning of an enormous dog which had been knocked over and the two people tending it. Just as well they had used the triangle as the stopped car was quite a way beyond the people/dog and it prevented an even worse accident in the making.
Why won't people shell out the giant sum of £1 in Poundland for a fluorescent top? Fits easily into the door pocket or even, heaven forbid, could be used by a cyclist ..... might even save your life.
|
Best place for your Hi-Vis jacket is the door pocket, so you can put it on before getting out of the car!
Warning triangle a very useful piece of kit, provided you set it up far enough back from your broken down car/accident/run-over dog - the careless driver bearing down on you either runs into it first, or jams on at the last minute when he sees it, rather than running into you.
Many years ago, Gromit Snr's MG was written off when it was rear-ended while he tended to a motorcyclist who'd come off his bike on a known dangerous bend near home.
|
|
as Gromit says above the warning triangle needs to be set up far enough away to be of any use. The times I've seen them 6 feet back from the broken down car makes me think those people reckon they're a force field not just a piece of red plastic.
|
OK a quick test,
without looking how far back does the highway code recommend the triangle should be placed?
I confess I didn't realise there was a recommended distance until my kids were learning to drive and the question was on one of the practice DVD's
|
"In Spain, it's a legal requirement to carry a Hi Vis jacket" - As of about two years ago it has been a requirement in many EU countries to carry Hi Vis jackets, certainly France, Germany, Spain and Italy. There is some confusion as to whether you need one for the driver or one for every person if the car, I now carry one for everyone."
Advisory only in Germany
|
|
at least 45 metres - but then I am considering taking up driving instructing for a living....
|
at least 45 metres - but then I am considering taking up driving instructing for a living.... so now we need a surveyors tape measure and someone to hold the end , dont bother just get out of the car and wait up the grass verge for plod to arrive
|
ok but don't hold your breath - the cam belt went on my Astra last November at 07:40 on a motorway. In the two hours it took the very nice man to reach me not one single marked police car passed me - I may have missed one but I don't think so; didn't have much else to do but stand and watch the traffic go by.
ps maybe now's the time to measure your stride so you can pace off distances when required.
|
OK a quick test without looking how far back does the highway code recommend the triangle should be placed?
On the motorway they say leave it in the boot.
|
indeed - rule 251 - do not attempt to place any warning device on the carriageway
--
Go on, get out of the car...
www.mikes-walks.co.uk
|
couple of nights ago had to shut off two lanes on the A406 North Circular in North London, for an accident with a jack knifed lorry versus Mercedes E Class. This road in theory has a 50mph limit (I say in theory because no one seems to stick to anything like that speed)
despite the fact there was a blocked road with an articulated lorry therein, a highly marked police car and police van strategically parked, with alternate rear red fogs lights flashing, hazard lights, blue lamps on the roof bar and alternate red fog light type lights on the roof bar, as well as reflective marking to the rear of both vehicles.......... hardly anyone thought to slow down........one woman even managed to get stuck...(lost the bottle to pull back out again) between the two police vehicles, because she came down in lane 2, skimmed the police car which was straddling lane 1 and 2 and then parked up behind the van fully in lane 2!
if they take no notice of that lot, what chance does a warning triangle have. I'm sure my colleagues in traffic depts can provide more war stories on the stupidity and lack of foresight of some people....sometimes you have to see it to believe it.
|
westpig - why does it happen ? - was it only yesterday or monday that someone managed to hit, fatally, a fireman extinguishing a fire on the hard shoulder - If the fire engine, with blue lights flashing, was not sufficient warning, presumably, there would have been smoke and steam as well.
Is it a 'british' thing ? I recall seeing a coach on fire on the autobahn - the emergency services had slowed traffic down by parking the fire engine half on and half off the hard shoulder, with one policeman stood in the carriageway, no hi-viz vest but khaki uniform, stood in feet apart hands-on-hip and staring at the traffic with a 'don't even think about it' look on his face
--
Go on, get out of the car...
www.mikes-walks.co.uk
|
|
Same in Massachusetts on the Turnpikes, Police officer in a sort of khaki get up physically slowing traffic down in pouring rain prior to am accident site. If they tried that on the M1 I wouldn't fancy their chances !
|
westpig - why does it happen ? - was it only yesterday or monday that someone managed to hit fatally a fireman extinguishing a fire on the hard shoulder - If the fire engine with blue lights flashing was not sufficient warning presumably there would have been smoke and steam as well.
Is it a 'british' thing ? I recall seeing a coach on fire on the autobahn - the emergency services had slowed traffic down by parking the fire engine half on and half off the hard shoulder with one policeman stood in the carriageway no hi-viz vest but khaki uniform stood in feet apart hands-on-hip and staring at the traffic with a 'don't even think about it' look on his face
No real idea, but my own thoroughly unscientific observations show that it does seem to be worse over here, in the UK, albeit overall our fatality figures compare fairly well with others
my own theory, is that the more regulated we have become, the less the average driver 'thinks' for himself... and again the slower we drive, the more boring it becomes and the less thought goes into that process........
It is my firm belief (after 26 years of this 'game') that the real problem is the increasing antisocial element of society, which thankfully remains fairly small, but increasingly nowadays is ignored by officialdom in favour of the 'easy option' i.e those who register their cars and respond to camera enforcement.
Secondly, 'Joe Average' is increasingly used to being told what to do, so they don't think for themselves......so on the occasions they do need to think for themselves, i.e. something untoward or an emergency, they are not used to it and don't know how to react......hence they plough on regardless
it also explains why increasingly so many people 'stick to the middle lane', 'don't move over when something faster comes up behind', ' don't look in the mirror' etc, etc......because those people just toodle along in their own little worlds....... try doing that on an Autobahn or even an Autoroute
|
"Is it a 'british' thing"
I think it is partly, at least its an English thing However I don't think its totally for the reasons you state. It all about conforming. Most people in English society do not want to 'stand out" and take their queue as to what action to take from those about them. If those about them are not slowing they won't slow down even if they feel uncomfortable in not doing so. Same think applies when motorway fog warning lights are switched on. People are not confident to act for themselves and will conform to the norm - if all continue at 80mph they will. Individuals in less insular societies such as the US tend to be more comfortable in making their own decisions based on the world about them and tend not to act in quite such a herd like manner
|
A warning triangle is the only way to give advance warning of a breakdown or other hazard beyond a bend or brow of a hill. A triangle is visible from 300 m away and therefore extends the warning of a breakdown by at least this length on a straight stretch. In Spain two triangles are required, and the second one must be placed ahead of the car on the same side of a single carriage road. That said, a high percentage of motorists are ignorant of the rules and seem to think 5 metres is a sufficient distance, often placing both triangles there together and even facing the wrong way. (Duh!)
It can be dangerous to place a triangle on the road but common sense dictates hopping over the crash barrier (clad in reflective jacket) before doing so. A small risk to one person versus the risk of multiple pile-up and multiple deaths.
Call me fatalistic, but I also carry a first aid box and a footwell-mounted 2 kg extinguisher which are not yet required.
|
AA notes:
"One warning triangle compulsory for non-Spanish registered vehicles; two for Spanish registered vehicles. Note: Drivers of non-Spanish registered vehicles should consider carrying two triangles as, regardless of regulations, local officials may impose on-the-spot fine if only one is available"
|
having been on the m1 today and seeing some sub human drivers i could think of a very good use for a triangle,obviously no warning would be given
i will get my jacket......................
|
As a resident in Spain I can confirm the accuracy of the last posting. Hi-Vis jackets are also compulsory as is the carrying of a full set of spare bulbs.
Guardia Civil Trafico cops (AKA The Green Police, from the colour of their uniforms) are pretty much a law unto themselves in interpretation of traffic rules. NEVER argue with one, or you just might find yourself in the local nick without the option.
The Guardia`Civil is actually a military unit, with military discipline and military training. Oddly enough they are paid Armed Forces rates of pay which are a lot less than the National Police or Policia Local.
BTW. the motorcycle Trafico units always operate in pairs, so if you see one you can bet his mate isn't far away.
Roger. (Costa del Sol, España)
|
|
