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Winds of change?
Page 9
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Barry Proctor considers the aftermath of the recent storms and makes a couple of suggestions to reduce the impact of similar events in the future.
The recent storms that hit the country with the force of a small hurricane were a disaster for the UK road network. High winds toppled dozens of vehicles and closed hundreds of roads, costing the road transport industry an estimated 250m. This isn't to mention the tragic deaths of three truck dryers. But could any of this carnage have been avoided?
Maybe, if drivers of empty curtains iders took the time to strap curtains open and use a second strap over the roof. We had a dryer delivering to Buxton who thankfully did just that — but he saw eight other vehicles that hadn't and which had suffered the consequences.
Additionally, the authorities could have made better use of the electronic matrix signs that are intended to warn drivers of road closures I know of another driver travelling from Warrington on the M62 who received no warning that the M6 was closed at the Theiwall viaduct; consequently it took him more than four hours to drive the 39 miles to Stoke-onTrent.
As for myself, returning from a security committee meeting in Felixstowe, I spent two very unhappy hours on the Al 4 covering just one mile. Given that Felixstowe is the largest container port In the UK and the fourth largest in Europe, it is clear that the A14, in the words of Home Secretary John Reid, is not fit for purpose.
I really do feel for the drivers who operate from and out of the Port of Felixstowe. I am sure that a decent motorway network would go a long way towards making these operators — not to mention the UK economy as a whole-more profitable.
It's a nice thought. However I can't be the only one suspecting that in the present climate, ideas like these are merely spitting in the wind.