Driving home from work there was a broken down car half parked on the verge with the driver attempting to direct traffic. Completely pointless as there was plenty of room for vehicles to pass in both directions. The driver was getting quite annoyed that he was being virtually ignored, but what if there was a collision after someone did ignore him?
I know builders stop traffic to let lorries out but to my knowledge the public and even banksmen have no authority to stop traffic.
He was just trying to be helpful for his inconvenience, at least he made an effort.
It’s quite simple really.
If you want to stop traffic to allow someone to perform some sort of manoeuvre then you need to stand in the bloody road and make yourself quite clear. Standing at the side of the road flapping your arms is useless. As there is always someone who’ll pipe up and say “you have no authority” or “what would happen if…” and they will ignore your flappihandidness. They will not however run you over.
I always tell helpful builders to let them get on with it, because if there is an accident, they will try and blame the person in the high viz coat. It’s just not worth the effort.
Drivers who can’t pass a simple obstruction in the road safely, shouldn’t be on the road!
The only people who can stop traffic are Police, Vosa ( or whatever they presently call them selves) and Lollilop peeps.
Any body else does so at their own risk. We’ve all done it though, step into the middle of the road wearing a hi viz and direct Joe and Joanne Public to stop. Traffic stops but you have no authority.
Having been to a couple of truck shows a few years ago, I always thought it strange why at a gathering for truck drivers, you had boy scouts in hi viz trying to tell you how to park.
Wardaddy:
Having been to a couple of truck shows a few years ago, I always thought it strange why at a gathering for truck drivers, you had boy scouts in hi viz trying to tell you how to park.
Having been one of those “boy scouts” many years ago (albeit not at a truck show) it’s mostly because, left to their own devices, people will park very inefficiently. They’ll leave huge gaps (2+ metres) to the car next door, and they’ll only park in single rows so that they can drive straight out of the parking space rather than reversing in/out. It all means that the parking area will end up being “full” with only half the number of cars that it can actually take, and motorists arriving later will end up complaining about there being nowhere to park.
If you have a tarmac/concrete car park with marked bays then you don’t get the problem, but on an open grass field, there’s nothing to encourage people to space the cars sensibly so people just park selfishly and screw it up for everyone else.
In response to the OP, yes, the public have no authority to stop traffic, and in the circumstances described (where there was sufficient space for traffic to pass in both directions easily), I wouldn’t have bothered directing traffic; however,I have done at other incidents (for example, on a car vs pedestrian collision near my house - ambulance in attendance, but police not yet arrived) where one side of the road is blocked. Being on a bicycle, I’m always wearing hi-viz, and I can park the bike out of the way so that it doesn’t cause a further obstruction.
Yes, drivers ought to be able to negotiate around obstacles in the road, but the traffic will flow much better if someone directs it such that you get alternating streams of traffic in each direction, rather than each pair of drivers deciding between themselves. In that situation, most intelligent drivers will see what’s going on and stop; many of them also wave to say thanks. If they don’t stop, then the person directing just doesn’t beckon the opposing traffic on until the idiot has passed.
mick.mh2racing:
The only people who can stop traffic are Police, DVSA ( or whatever they presently call them selves) and Lollilop peeps.
Any body else does so at their own risk. We’ve all done it though, step into the middle of the road wearing a hi viz and direct Joe and Joanne Public to stop. Traffic stops but you have no authority.
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nearly correct 
… and Traffic Officers - - which includes - Highways England Traffic Officer (formerly Highways Agency, untill the name changed 01st April this year) and the Welsh - Swyddog Traffig .
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You need to brush up on your Highway code my son
trux:
mick.mh2racing:
The only people who can stop traffic are Police, DVSA ( or whatever they presently call them selves) and Lollilop peeps.
Any body else does so at their own risk. We’ve all done it though, step into the middle of the road wearing a hi viz and direct Joe and Joanne Public to stop. Traffic stops but you have no authority..
nearly correct
… and Traffic Officers - - which includes - Highways England Traffic Officer (formerly Highways Agency, untill the name changed 01st April this year) and the Welsh - Swyddog Traffig .
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You need to brush up on your Highway code my son
Thanks for the correction, Dad, I meant VOSA or whatever they call themselves today. Didn’t bother looking it up because I knew some smarty pants would be along to put me right. 
Wardaddy:
Driving home from work there was a broken down car half parked on the verge with the driver attempting to direct traffic. Completely pointless as there was plenty of room for vehicles to pass in both directions. The driver was getting quite annoyed that he was being virtually ignored, but what if there was a collision after someone did ignore him?
I know builders stop traffic to let lorries out but to my knowledge the public and even banksmen have no authority to stop traffic.
Clearly the driver has no authority to direct the flow of traffic, but if he is making an effort to alert others to a danger then good for him, I can quite imagine there would be a lot of clowns giving him abuse though.
A very very long time ago I came across a serious accident halfway round a bend, knowing it was a fast road I ran back round the bend to try and stop others crashing into me. The first car that came along, the driver was more intent in sticking his fingers up at me and mouthing abuse than slowing down, he did manage to swerve and miss the back of the trailer but ended up in the ditch. Funny thing was he turned out to be a really nice caring bloke who offered wonderful help and care to the poor sods trapped in the car.
I’m wary of people waving down motorists as there are a lot scam cases along the M40 corridor. Normally attributed to Asian/Eastern Europeans parking on slip roads and flagging down passing drivers. It was on several local news outlets they offer you a worthless bit of bling in exchange for petrol money. I never stop unless there’s an obstruction, I’m just suspicious of people (hence why I ignore door to door sales people and charity collectors).
True. You must have seen a foreign registered vehicle trying to flag you down on the motorway clearly to ask for directions.
I broke down in a turn right only lane at trafic lights once. Even though I had my hazard lights on the number of people that just pulled up behind me & then couldn’t understand it when I stayed where I was when the lights changed was hilarious. I took to standing behind the truck trying to direct the blind from queuing behind me, but eventually gave up because it was so futile. I went back to my cab, put the kettle on & waited for the breakdown.
Born Idle:
I broke down in a turn right only lane at trafic lights once. Even though I had my hazard lights on the number of people that just pulled up behind me & then couldn’t understand it when I stayed where I was when the lights changed was hilarious. I took to standing behind the truck trying to direct the blind from queuing behind me, but eventually gave up because it was so futile. I went back to my cab, put the kettle on & waited for the breakdown.
I wont stand around giving directions when broken down. If people can’t see a lorry then they wont see me waving at them.
Over the last 30 years I have directed traffic on quite a few occasions. It prob helps I’m 6’3" and not a racing snake. If it looks like a dangerous situation or long tail backs and I’m at the front I will step up. Hi vis tends to make people look. As long as you are concise and firm. I’ve never really had any grief.
I do find it strange the police don’t seem to do it any more.
midlifetrucker:
Over the last 30 years I have directed traffic on quite a few occasions. It prob helps I’m 6’3" and not a racing snake. If it looks like a dangerous situation or long tail backs and I’m at the front I will step up. Hi vis tends to make people look. As long as you are concise and firm. I’ve never really had any grief.
I do find it strange the police don’t seem to do it any more.
The police were doing it in Wales last week on the 40. Some plum had parked their car on its side in a ditch. PC Plodette was frantically waving traffic past ten meters from the car.
I’m not sure why since everyone was in the outside lane already due to the cones and blue accident sign 100 meters down the road.
A.
trux:
mick.mh2racing:
The only people who can stop traffic are Police, DVSA ( or whatever they presently call them selves) and Lollilop peeps.
Any body else does so at their own risk. We’ve all done it though, step into the middle of the road wearing a hi viz and direct Joe and Joanne Public to stop. Traffic stops but you have no authority..
nearly correct
… and Traffic Officers - - which includes - Highways England Traffic Officer (formerly Highways Agency, untill the name changed 01st April this year) and the Welsh - Swyddog Traffig .
.
You need to brush up on your Highway code my son
still wrong you missed off an officer of the railway they are the ONLY people who can authorise you to cross a failed railway crossing
Adonis.:
I’m not sure why since everyone was in the outside lane already due to the cones and blue accident sign 100 meters down the road.
Most likely just encouraging people to get on their way rather than causing even more delays by slowing down and rubbernecking.
MrFlibble:
Most likely just encouraging people to get on their way rather than causing even more delays by slowing down and rubbernecking.
That’ll be their excuse, but I do get the impression sometimes it’s the only exciting thing that’s happened to them that week so they’re going to use all their “power” on that job. It’s best when they seem to be trying for the Olympics bowling team with their frantic massively over the top arm waving at traffic which simply can’t go any quicker as the car / van / truck in front kindof gets in the way. Better than sitting in a motorway services I guess as most of those highways people seem to do 90% of the time.
assets.digital.cabinet-office.g … ersons.pdf
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still wrong you missed off an officer of the railway they are the ONLY people who can authorise you to cross a failed railway crossing
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fair does .
you mean BTP (British Transport Police) . or the Signal box person
ok , found it , excuse the direct copy and paste ,
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Highway Code quote :-
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Rule 294
Railway telephones. If you are driving a large or slow- moving vehicle, a long, low vehicle with a risk of grounding, or herding animals, a train could arrive before you are clear of the crossing. You MUST obey any sign instructing you to use the railway telephone to obtain permission to cross. You MUST also telephone when clear of the crossing if requested to do so.
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Guess thats the Signaler from the signal box then 
edited> .then I stand corrected