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Driving us round the bend
Dec 22 2003
By Ben Hurst, Evening Mail
Midland highways bosses were today accused of producing one of the most confusing stretches of road in Britain.
Serious safety concerns have been raised about the M6 leading up to the M6 Toll and M42.
Information- packed signs on overhead gantries are leaving drivers bewildered, with many weaving between lanes, causing near misses or even making emergency stops. The complex section from just before Junction 4A northbound sees the road split up into three major motorways, but confusion is being caused by the road signs directing motorists to use different lanes.
Russell Eden, from the Midlands Association of British Drivers, said: It is certainly very confusing.
There is the problem of people going the wrong way and I have no doubt that there will be a serious accident involving someone who is trying to get to grips with it.
You have got people who are driving, which requires a lot of concentration, and if the signs have too much information on them, it can distract them at critical moments.
When an Evening Mail news team drove through the section, many drivers were seen being forced to make last-minute lane changes.
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One elderly couple clearly ended up on the wrong motorway, dramatically jamming on the brakes, before deciding to carry on.
A Highways Agency spokeswoman said: To date we have not had any complaints or feedback about the signs at this section yet.
We would ask any drivers who do want to contact us, to get in touch and we will review the arrangements.
Anyone wanting to put their point across can write to Alan Odey, Highways Agency, 5 Broadway, Broad Street, Birmingham, B15 1BL.
