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Tuesday 2 April 2013

This madness has to stop

From the BBC travel website (my emphasis)

M25 Greater London, clockwise between A127 [M25 junction 29] and A13 Lakeside [M25 junction 30]
M25 Greater London - M25 closed, queueing traffic and long delays clockwise between J29, A127 (Romford) and J30, A13 (Lakeside), because of accident investigation work. Diversion in operation - via the hollow triangle, the A127, A128 and the A13 to rejoin at J30. Congestion to J27 M11.


A406 London - A406 North Circular Road in West London closed, severe delays and queueing traffic southbound between Park Royal and Hanger Lane Gyratory, because of a serious accident involving at least two lorries. Congestion to Henly's Corner and to Chiswick Roundabout.


The accident that closed the M25 happened at 12:30 today; nearly seven hours later, it's still closed. 

The accident that closed the A406 happened at lunchtime; some six hours or so later it's still closed.


I know accidents need investigating and that the injured and their vehicles need clearing from the scene. BUT surely the needs of the thousands of drivers unable to travel where they need to go, or at least delayed for hours, as traffic snarls up around the scene of the accident and in surrounding roads should be taken into account.

After all the A406 incident resulted in about 50m of the central barrier being damaged, three men being injured and taken to hospital - one man was taken as a priority to St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, with neck pain, the other two were treated for shoulder pain at North Middlesex Hospital. Hardly carnage was it.

The M25 incident was more serious as three heavy goods vehicles and five cars were involved in the crash.Essex Fire Service had to cut three people free who were trapped in their vehicles. Two people were airlifted to Royal London Hospital via helicopter and are said to be in a serious condition.
Two adults and a child were taken to Basildon hospital but their injuries are not described as life threatening.

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