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CLEARING THE AIR
Page 23
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I am delighted to see that at last someone has noticed the everincreasing time taken to clear major incidents from carriageways, which creates gridlock on the surrounding areas for hours ( CM31 Oct-6 Nov). The cost of extended closures to transport and surrounding areas must be enormous. Sadly the very much maligned recovery industry seems to be blamed—this is totally incorrect.
In the 40-plus years! have been involved in the heavy recovery industry we have gone from gross weights of 18 tonnes 10 44 tonnes. Likewise our expertise and equipment has improved immeasurably, and now I find that for the majority of occasions the recovery process is completed at a speedier rate than ever.
There is no doubt that the extraction of casualties cannot be rushed, but from that point on the wheel seems to fall off.
Years ago police recording and measuring at the scene used to take between one and two hours: now the norm seems to be six to seven hours. I know of one instance on a Midlands motorway that took nearly eight hours for a single car recovery.
I can think of some simple things that would greatly improve the clear-up times we now have: • Whoever does the clean-up operation should be requested to send a survey team at the start of such incidents to allow them to assess the equipment needed and have it to hand when needed. This used to be the case but, as usual, things have gone backwards—it does not happen now. Recovery, when able to begin, is normally Only a small part of the closure time.
• There must be improvements in the speed taken to record the scene. I appreciate they only have one chance to record all the relevant information, but with modern equipment it should not take as long as it now does. The accident investigation takes far too long and, of course, nothing can be done from the clearance point of view until they finish.
• Recovery units on police contracts should be given the classification of emergency vehicles with either blue or, as the recovery industry wanted. magenta lights to enable them to get to scenes faster and safer. The days of anybody noticing orange lights are long gone.
II It is high time that the expertise and modern equipment now available is recognised. The recovery industry seems to be constantly maligned. Nobody seems to recognise the skills and expense of the equipment often used in very dangerous and adverse weather—we have to work when others stop. Name and address supplied.