I was driving along the M4 eastbound just now between Bath and Swindon and saw overhead warnings saying “Oncoming vehicle” with a speed limit of 20mph! I looked round and saw what looked like similar warnings on the westbound side. Anyone know what happened there? Of course, everyone ignored it and after I passed about three of them, they all changed to “End” on both sides.
That was Dozy following his satnav.
probably being cautious seeing as the chap who died on the m1 a few weeks ago would no doubt have been unaware.
I would rather be aware just in case than have someone plough into me at 70mph.
It’s procedure to set 20’s and “ONCOMING VEHICLE” if one is reported, and has been even prior to the HA taking over the signals…
The 64 dollar question is though, How far do you set the signals?
So Johny MOP phones his mobile operator to report seeing a vehicle enter the motorway down the wrong slip-road, The mobile operator could be anywhere in the country (or even not in the country) who then has to either understand the location that the caller means, or by which * Phone mast* his phone has triggered. Then they have to decide which Police force to put him through to.
Once through to the police (which could be the wrong force) the 999 call taker will take down the information passed and make a computer log of it. (Often these call takers are not motorway experienced, and will only put down what the MOP states, ie Junction 20,M6. sometimes no direction or anything else)
This computer log is then electronically switched through to the Highways england system, the HE operator will then set the signals as per procedure, wondering & guessing all the time just how far should the signals be set■■?/
Think about the time scale;
MOP makes the call to the mobile operator, 1 - 2 minutes, who decides which police force to put them through to.
Mobile operator calls Police force, puts caller through, information passed, log made. 2 - 3 minutes.
Log passed electronically to HE, HE operator picks up the log and sets signals according to the information passed, with best guess just how far they should be set. 2 - 3 mins.
So, from the mop first dialling 999, to the sigs showing on road, in the best timescale that’s 5 minutes, but more likely over 8 minutes. so at just 60 mph it’s between 5 & 8 miles from where it was first reported.
We find there are 3 different types of “Oncoming vehicles”
- People who don’t normally travel on motorways, these can be new drivers or elderly drivers, often exiting service areas the same way that they entered. These usually are found very near to where they’ve come on, facing the wrong direction, either in the live c/way or on the H/S panicking.
- Foreign drivers (HGV driver are not immune to this, - I have the cctv footage!) These will often continue on to the next junction to try to get off there.
- Baddies on the run from a police pursuit, at warp factor speeds, often with police on the correct c/way at similar speeds. (Thankfully we don’t get many of these)
When the call comes in, we have no idea which type of driver it will be, or how far they might travel, or even if the location is correct! We can only go with the information that we have. although people will be searching cameras to try to find the vehicle so signals can then be amended to suite.
They in the Controll Room seems drunk from Time to Time
same happened to me on the M4 early this year,all the signs saying oncoming vehicle,i thought to myself interesting as it never happened to me before,so carried on for about 5 miles then as you say nothing,signs changed to END,i thought WTF was all that about,maybe another way of slowing vehicles down
Casual Observer:
Do you mean Immigrant?
His blatant fake poor English thing is getting pathetic now 
truckman020:
same happened to me on the M4 early this year,all the signs saying oncoming vehicle,i thought to myself interesting as it never happened to me before,so carried on for about 5 miles then as you say nothing,signs changed to END,i thought WTF was all that about,maybe another way of slowing vehicles down
It’s a hell of a surprise when it does happen though.
It happened to me many year ago in the early hours of the morning the M25, a car came the wrong way up the slip road towards me. My first reaction was to think I was in the wrong. 
I think the driver had missed the exit off the M40 so went to the entry slip and drove up it and then went the right way on the M25, luckily I was the only other vehicle around, (told you it was many years ago )
It happened to me once - very scary.
I was heading South on the M1 and took the long slip road to the M18. I was on the N/S lane. A little way in, I saw a car coming towards me at speed in the other lane. All I could do was flash my lights, slow down and move onto the HS. In my mirror I saw him also pull over onto the hard shoulder, facing the wrong way of course.
He was a good half mile away from me, so I just took off again. I assumed that he turned round, rather than heading North bound up the M1 South. No mobile phones in those days and I reckoned that it would all be sorted one way or another, by the time I got to a phone.
bazza123:
Casual Observer:
Do you mean Immigrant?
His blatant fake poor English thing is getting pathetic now
Its not just me then
Casual Observer:
Its You then? Could write a Book about the Overhead Sign
damm it i thought i kept being flashed at today on my way from swindon to brstol i thought everyone was just saying helo lol i came through around the same time and there wernt any signs saying this
toby1234abc:
That was Dozy following his satnav.
If you had read the threads properly you would no I’m on tesco for the next 2 weeks, all I did on tues was a trunk run from balborough-daventry-balborough, I was told not to use my sat nav but to follow the risk assessment instructions, which I did ,( excellent it was to,I never got lost once),
I passed those signs yesterday as well. There was nothing on the east bound carriageway but I did notice on the west bound carriageway there was a car on the hard shoulder (Nissan Micra I think) facing the wrong way with a woman stood by it on the phone. I’m guessing maybe she had a blow out and lost control and ended up facing the wrong way, and then had to drive the wrong way to get on to the hard shoulder.
I must admit, when I saw the first sign I did wonder what the hell might be heading in my direction and the possible consequences. It was then a case of radio volume down, both hands on the wheel and looking absolutely as far ahead as possible and watching the vehicles in the distance to be ready for anything!
I know this is how you are supposed to be all the time but when you see a sign like that you really do go into full on concentration mode!