M25

[Bill DawesParticipant @billdawes]

[Bill DawesParticipant @billdawes]

Living in Somerset the M25 is not my normal environment but just used it returning from a holiday on the Norfolk Broads. It reinforced my previous visits, I find it a most frustrating experience as it seems a shambles compared to the standard 3 lane motorway, the extra lane just seems to encourage two lanes of dawdlers.

It was a 'pleasure' to get on to the relatively organised traffic flow of the 3 lane M4. People seemed to driving with more purpose and getting on with it.

Bill D

[Bill DawesParticipant @billdawes]

Now you see it now you don't, are duplicate posts automatically deleted?

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Only when I spot them

J

PS one or two people do also report duplicate posts too.

Edited By JasonB on 23/06/2017 13:23:40

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

During the 1990s work obliged me to drive on the M25 2 or 3 times a year. Stopped by queues every single time, coming and going.

Trivia: More people live inside the M25 than in the whole of Australia. (I'm not suggesting that's a good thing!)

Dave

[Clive HartlandParticipant @clivehartland94829]

Remember the Toll on tunnel and bridge, is it better to drive all around instead of paying?

I have at times at night had a free run, no traffic and enjoyable.

Edited By Clive Hartland on 23/06/2017 14:40:56

[KWILParticipant @kwil]

Nothing wrong with the M25 for those that know it, just too many users who do not, at the worst times. (ie cut across 5 lanes of traffic because they do not read the overhead signs nor know where they want or should be going)

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

Count yourself lucky you don't have to commute on the M25/M4 like I do. Last week 2 hours going in to work (42miles) and 2 1/4 back though I'd ducked out through Slough in the end. Most days average 1 1/2 hours but only because I avoid peak times resulting in a 13 hour day. If a section is free it just means the bottleneck is moved along. M4 just as bad with the roadworks at Langley and Reading at the moment.
Must be pretty frightening on motorways where you can reach breakneck speeds like 35mph

[HasBeanParticipant @hasbean]

Is that M25 x 3.0 ? I think I have the changewheels for that!

(I'll get my coat)

[Bill DawesParticipant @billdawes]

I had my fill of motorway commuting when I lived in the Midlands. The South West is not all a bunch of roses however, feel sorry for those that have to commute to the Bristol/Avonmouth area every day.

Stay well away from the M5 car park as well on holiday weekends. We have the luxury of living on the Somerset levels, can travel for miles in a few minutes.

Travelling away from Wroxham after our holiday was strange, even 30 mph seemed lunatic speed after two weeks on a boat at 4 to 6 mph.

Bill D.

[pgk pgkParticipant @pgkpgk17461]

Posted by SillyOldDuffer on 23/06/2017 13:48:01:

During the 1990s work obliged me to drive on the M25 2 or 3 times a year. Stopped by queues every single time, coming and going.

Trivia: More people live inside the M25 than in the whole of Australia. (I'm not suggesting that's a good thing!)

Dave

Population australia 24million… inside M25 9.3 million according to my searches.

I had a client who we arranged a referral appt for at potters bar… she rang her husband in panic when she realised she had just driven around the M25 at least twice without knowing which road to get off at. Hubby had to tell her to park next service station, describe it ..go find her and get her to follow him home….

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Posted by Bill Dawes on 23/06/2017 18:05:23:

…We have the luxury of living on the Somerset levels, can travel for miles in a few minutes.

…

When my kids were small there was an incident on the M5 where a police helicopter couldn't keep up with a stolen sports car on the empty motorway. Didn't save the crimbos: they got nicked coming off the motorway to hide the car on a farm near Taunton.

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Posted by pgk pgk on 23/06/2017 18:11:19:

Posted by SillyOldDuffer on 23/06/2017 13:48:01:

During the 1990s work obliged me to drive on the M25 2 or 3 times a year. Stopped by queues every single time, coming and going.

Trivia: More people live inside the M25 than in the whole of Australia. (I'm not suggesting that's a good thing!)

Dave

Population australia 24million… inside M25 9.3 million according to my searches.

…

It was an Aussie who told me! I've just realised he was probably pulling my plonker. Doh!

[Mike PooleParticipant @mikepoole82104]

I understand a lap of the 117 miles has been done in 46mins, I doubt it was Monday morning or Friday afternoon!

Mike

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

One of the problems with some motorway stretches is the inability, or reluctance, of many drivers to use all the available lanes.

I once went from Northampton to Luton, unhindered at a fairly high speed, using only the inside lane of the M1 whilst traffic was often clogged, in the outer lanes, with slower moving traffic. Often an empty lane between myself and slower moving traffic. I don't class 'staying in lane' as undertaking.

Traffic density is measured by some of the many cameras along the route and if everyone used all the lanes sensibly, the vehicle spacings would be much safer in the variable speed limit sections.. I find the M25 is often slowed by inconsiderate lane hoggers. Likely the 'drivers' who don't know how to change lanes!

[Gordon WParticipant @gordonw]

I am very pleased to announce that I have never seen the M25.

[Stuart BridgerParticipant @stuartbridger82290]

I remember there was a concern when it opened that it would be used for racing and timed circuits. All fears of that soon disappeared

Edited By Stuart Bridger on 24/06/2017 09:30:58

[Roderick JenkinsParticipant @roderickjenkins93242]

Whatever frustrations the M25 induces, it's still the quickest way for me to get from Hampshire to Norfolk or Dover

Rod

[Stuart BridgerParticipant @stuartbridger82290]

Posted by Roderick Jenkins on 24/06/2017 09:41:45:

Whatever frustrations the M25 induces, it's still the quickest way for me to get from Hampshire to Norfolk or Dover

Rod

100% agree, where would we be without it?

[MikeParticipant @mike89748]

Come to my village in North-east Scotland: the nearest motorway is 130 miles away, and I haven't driven on it for ten years, thank goodness!

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Posted by not done it yet on 23/06/2017 22:09:42:

One of the problems with some motorway stretches is the inability, or reluctance, of many drivers to use all the available lanes.

…

My late father was one of them. Somehow he'd become convinced that the three lanes were for slow, medium and fast traffic. As he was neither a slow-mo or a boy racer it was 'correct' for him to stay in the middle lane. In it he cruised at 60mph even if the 'slow' lane was empty and cars were queuing behind him to overtake.

Dad was an intelligent family man, had a successful career in thinking jobs, and was good with money. In all other respects his driving was good; no accidents and one speeding fine in over 50 years. Me showing him the highway code made no difference whatever. Perhaps bad-habits are impossible to break.

Anyone able to comment on US practice? It appears the rule there is to use all the lanes. No doubt it varies depending on where you are but heavy traffic limited to, say, 55mph would make better use of available lane space than the British system.

Dave

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by Bill Dawes on 23/06/2017 18:05:23:

Stay well away from the M5 car park as well on holiday weekends. We have the luxury of living on the Somerset levels, can travel for miles in a few minutes.

Except on holiday weekends! I have spent as much time stuck on the Avon/Somerset/Devon M5 than the M25!

[Author]

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