Tuesday
Nov012011
When a Sat Nav (GPS) came into it's own
Tuesday, November 1, 2011 at 10:56PM
After a frustrating few hours spent sat in traffic around the town of Preston in Lancashire, I decided the best way to vent my anger without doing any damage to anything but my keyboard, would be to type a blog post.
Ok, ok, so I'm exaggerating a little, I'm not that angry, but still, there really is something extremely agonizing about being stuck, in a long line of traffic, with nowhere to go, not moving an inch. Not only does it send my blood pressure sky rocketing and make me late, its also great for fuel consumption, and does wondrous things to the surrounding atmosphere.
So what happened? Well, there was some kind of oil spill on a motorway this morning at around 10am, as far as I understand. Unfortunately, it was on one of the only two major motorways which run from the South of England to the North. And because of the nature of the accident, to make the road safe, the entire 3 lane north bound carriageway needed to be re-surfaced. That meant the road was closed for the entire day. Ordinarily, this wouldn't have been too much of a problem, diversions would be in place to use the other major roads.
However, as bad luck would have it, the accident occurred at a spot where 3 major motorways feed into one, such that all three motorways were affected. Since this isn't LA too, our motorways only have 3 lanes each, so there wasn't anyway to only close off parts of the road. And Britain's A roads...well lets just say we have nice windy,scenic, country lanes, and not a top notch infrastructure.
As an 'Always Be Prepared' scout, I knew about this accident, and knew about the backed up traffic. And I planned accordingly with a detour on the side streets. I pulled off before the tailbacks on the motorway, rounded the roundabout, and began my journey, very pleased with myself that I had skipped the traffic.
And then I saw red brake lights. And we stopped. And we moved about 300 yards in 20 minutes.
But while I was sat waiting for the traffic to move, I was able to play with my Sat Nav (I say mine but it's really my Grandad's!) And, I was able to calculate a new route to my destination, avoiding this gridlock in front of me. The left turn was inches in front of me, but the car in front, in true "sod's law" fashion, decided he couldn't edge any further forward, and couldn't move a touch to the left so I could slip past.
So I waited a little longer.
Finally, I was off, whizzing west down country lanes, through small countryside villages, seeing some places I never would've seen along the motorway. But every major road I came to going North, was rammed with cars, slowly creeping along like a drowsy snail.
Thankfully again though, I've been blessed with a good sense of direction, unlike some in my family, and can generally determine the rough direction I should be heading in! So again, it was off into the country roads, skipping out huge portions of traffic jams and edging a little closer to where I had to be a little faster.
Still, I spent a good time sat going nowhere. I made it to where I was heading only an hour and ten minutes behind schedule. Not bad, when the radio was saying it was taking most people at least 2 hours to get through to the other side of the jams. And the audition I was going to was very informal, so my tardiness was immaterial.
Coming back, I was eager to make up for lost time, and zoom back down the clear southbound carriages. Alas, I hit rush hour traffic, buses stopping in front of me and then pulling out, traffic lights always on red, cyclists dangerously cutting across the roads. Slowly I made it the short distance to the slip road entrance....only to be confronted by another gridlock, an absolute stand still slip road, and a motorway carriageway cluttered with unmoving headlights.
Back round the roundabout, back through the city centre traffic, and back to the trusty sat nav, to help me skip out the tailbacks from a multi vehicle pile up. Though again I was able to keep moving, I was still faced with little old men drivers, blocking lanes, not knowing where to turn, and not knowing how to accelerate. Gosh it was frustrating.
Finally, I made it to an open motorway, homeward bound. But then I got stuck with those idiotic drivers who hog the middle and outside lanes, and won't move over. And then all red traffic lights. And a learner driver.
The lesson from all this: Save Time, Save Money, Keep your blood pressure low, and Save the Planet....by taking the train
Ok, ok, so I'm exaggerating a little, I'm not that angry, but still, there really is something extremely agonizing about being stuck, in a long line of traffic, with nowhere to go, not moving an inch. Not only does it send my blood pressure sky rocketing and make me late, its also great for fuel consumption, and does wondrous things to the surrounding atmosphere.
So what happened? Well, there was some kind of oil spill on a motorway this morning at around 10am, as far as I understand. Unfortunately, it was on one of the only two major motorways which run from the South of England to the North. And because of the nature of the accident, to make the road safe, the entire 3 lane north bound carriageway needed to be re-surfaced. That meant the road was closed for the entire day. Ordinarily, this wouldn't have been too much of a problem, diversions would be in place to use the other major roads.
However, as bad luck would have it, the accident occurred at a spot where 3 major motorways feed into one, such that all three motorways were affected. Since this isn't LA too, our motorways only have 3 lanes each, so there wasn't anyway to only close off parts of the road. And Britain's A roads...well lets just say we have nice windy,scenic, country lanes, and not a top notch infrastructure.
As an 'Always Be Prepared' scout, I knew about this accident, and knew about the backed up traffic. And I planned accordingly with a detour on the side streets. I pulled off before the tailbacks on the motorway, rounded the roundabout, and began my journey, very pleased with myself that I had skipped the traffic.
And then I saw red brake lights. And we stopped. And we moved about 300 yards in 20 minutes.
But while I was sat waiting for the traffic to move, I was able to play with my Sat Nav (I say mine but it's really my Grandad's!) And, I was able to calculate a new route to my destination, avoiding this gridlock in front of me. The left turn was inches in front of me, but the car in front, in true "sod's law" fashion, decided he couldn't edge any further forward, and couldn't move a touch to the left so I could slip past.
So I waited a little longer.
Finally, I was off, whizzing west down country lanes, through small countryside villages, seeing some places I never would've seen along the motorway. But every major road I came to going North, was rammed with cars, slowly creeping along like a drowsy snail.
Thankfully again though, I've been blessed with a good sense of direction, unlike some in my family, and can generally determine the rough direction I should be heading in! So again, it was off into the country roads, skipping out huge portions of traffic jams and edging a little closer to where I had to be a little faster.
Still, I spent a good time sat going nowhere. I made it to where I was heading only an hour and ten minutes behind schedule. Not bad, when the radio was saying it was taking most people at least 2 hours to get through to the other side of the jams. And the audition I was going to was very informal, so my tardiness was immaterial.
Coming back, I was eager to make up for lost time, and zoom back down the clear southbound carriages. Alas, I hit rush hour traffic, buses stopping in front of me and then pulling out, traffic lights always on red, cyclists dangerously cutting across the roads. Slowly I made it the short distance to the slip road entrance....only to be confronted by another gridlock, an absolute stand still slip road, and a motorway carriageway cluttered with unmoving headlights.
Back round the roundabout, back through the city centre traffic, and back to the trusty sat nav, to help me skip out the tailbacks from a multi vehicle pile up. Though again I was able to keep moving, I was still faced with little old men drivers, blocking lanes, not knowing where to turn, and not knowing how to accelerate. Gosh it was frustrating.
Finally, I made it to an open motorway, homeward bound. But then I got stuck with those idiotic drivers who hog the middle and outside lanes, and won't move over. And then all red traffic lights. And a learner driver.
The lesson from all this: Save Time, Save Money, Keep your blood pressure low, and Save the Planet....by taking the train
Reader Comments (2)
Well, after reading your Blog I am compelled to reply.
i was on the wonderful CA. Freeway system today and heard about the following...TALK ABOUT GRIDLOCK!
A Tanker truck caught fire on the 60 Freeway right next to an over/underpass. THOUSANDS of cars were literally stuck for several hours on the FIVE lane road. (could not get off and could not get on or even move an inch as you were able to do). The Freeway was closed to all traffic both ways. There was concern that the underpass was damaged. This Freeway, in both directions, will be closed for another day at least for inspection and correction if need be. Some drivers were told that they could leave their car walk off the freeway for a snack, phonecall etc. and then return to their vehicles.
Slowly the authorities attempted to move the cars off the freeeway onto surface streets. SURE!
In no time the surface streets were JAMMED!
Advice was given by the media, to people who use this route to work every day, to stay home tomorrow.
This was a real CARmagedden! It happened in California. Sure you wouldn't have rather experienced your traffic in England?????
Oh, by the way, I was NOT on that Freeway. YEA!
addendum to my comment:
Possession of any kind of GPS would not have done you any good today on the California 60 Freeway.The best modern convenience usable in this situation was a cell phone, blackberry, etc. so that these thousands of stranded drivers could contact relatives, friends etc to put them on notice. Of course while waiting to be directed off the road, they could conduct business with their Ipads, Smart PHones, Cels, Blackberrys, Laptops etc. or they could relax and read their Kindle, Nook, or whatever you do with these modern conveniences!
I must confess that any of the above electronic means of communication would be sorely welcomed by me, were I in the middle of the mess! That is if i could figure out how to use it/them! (Confession of an oldie).