* Snaky
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Why on earth do we have to suffer such vague and complicated road layouts at some of the motorway service areas? I used to think that the Aust service area by the Severn Bridge took the biscuit for round-the-houses layout, but I now nominate the new Scratchwood area at the southern end of M1 for that doubtful title. It is sited on one side of the motorway only, and while it is handy enough for northbound traffic, southbound users face a different prospect.
The drawbacks start as soon as one peels off from the motorway; still mentally cruising at M-way pace, one encounters a "slow" sign followed almost immediately by a narrow right-angled turn carrying a"15 mph maximum" sign. This leads one over the motorway and into wide open spaces which are broken up by little islands carrying inadequate direction signs; the planners have also managed to incorporate two "give way" crossings on the approaches, and a roundabout soon after. Even on a dry, sunny day I found it confusing and accident-prone; I would hate to tackle it on a wet, dark night.