Latest news with #motorways
BreakingNews.ie
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- BreakingNews.ie
Calls for tractors to be banned from motorways
Tractors must be banned from using motorways to improve road safety, according to truck drivers. The Irish Road Haulage Association is calling on the Government and Road Safety Authority to impose tighter restrictions. Advertisement Currently, the law allows for machinery to use motorways if the vehicle can maintain a speed of 50 kilometres per hour. Farmers say they will oppose any move to drive tractors off motorways. Irish Farmers Association President, Francie Gorman says the journeys tractors undertake on motorways are often short, and farmers need access to the road network. IRHA President Ger Hyland says there's a particular hazard for drivers approaching from behind at speed. "You have a car coming up behind them, and next thing they realise they are too close to the tractor in front. They have nowhere to go, they look to the overtaking lane, and it is full. "So then you have them taking the hard shoulder to overtake the tractor because they cannot stop in time. "If they do jam up on the motorway, you are likely to have a domino effect where one vehicle goes into another behind."
The Sun
23-05-2025
- The Sun
Major motorways under amber traffic warning for Bank Holiday weekend as 18m drivers to hit the roads in getaway rush
MAJOR motorways have been issued amber traffic warnings ahead of 18million drivers hitting the road this Bank Holiday. Motorists are urged to avoid certain routes across the UK as they kick journeys to celebrate the long weekend. 4 4 4 Drivers could suffer hold-ups of up to 55 minutes on stretches of the A30 westbound towards Okehampton, the M5 southbound toward Bridgwater and the A303 westbound past Stonehenge. Similar scenes have been predicted for those heading towards Wales on the M4. Traffic chaos will be worsened by the European Rugby Challenge Cup at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. The match starts at 8pm on Friday, with gates opening at 6pm and a spokesperson from Visit Cardiff warned: "The M4 motorway is expected to be very busy due to this rugby match so please plan ahead." The M25, the UK's busiest motorway, is also expected to see terrible delays this weekend according to travel analytics specialists INRIX. On Friday, May 23, the day most drivers will be setting off, the M25 anticlockwise from Junction 4 to Junction 1 near the Dartford Crossing may see lunchtime journeys delayed by more than 45 minutes. Later that day, the M25 anticlockwise between Cobham services (Junction 10) and Clacket Lane services (Junction 6) could face queues of 35 minutes during the evening rush hour. The RAC have warned of the worst traffic on Friday and Saturday when the highest number of trips are expected to be made. It is projected that each day could see 3.4 million journeys as Brits make a getaway for the long weekend. This figure drops on Sunday, May 25 with 2.7 million trips expected. The this jumps up to 3 million on Bank Holiday Monday, May 26, for the start of the half-term. On top of that, an addition 5.4 million trips may take place throughout the weekend. Research from RAC suggests that the best times to hit the roads will be very early in the morning or into the evening. A majority of drivers say they'll set off some time between 5am and 12pm. Drivers who are able to do so are advised to leave their journeys as late as possible as traffic is expected to peter out later in the day. RAC Mobile Mechanic, Aaron Bryan, said: "Our research shows it really is best to leave as early or late as possible this bank holiday weekend, as the majority of motorists are planning to set off in the morning. 'While Devon and Cornwall remain some of the most popular destinations for summer getaways, many other major routes across the country could be hit by increased traffic – not least the M25 which so many drivers use to reach the coast and the South East. "These stretches are likely to be equally as busy on Friday 30 May when drivers use the same roads for return journeys.' Just 3% of motorists are planning their journeys for between 7pm and 1pm after the evening rush hour Shaun Jones, the AA Patrol of the Year, added: "With the upcoming bank holiday, we anticipate a significant increase in traffic. Drivers should ensure their vehicles are roadworthy before setting off – Check tyres, oil and coolant levels and make sure you have enough fuel or EV charge for your journey. "We also encourage drivers taking longer journeys to take regular breaks to avoid fatigue and keep everyone refreshed. By following these tips, we can all contribute to a safer and more pleasant travel experience during the bank holiday weekend." This comes as Brits have also been warned of a Bank Holiday washout after temperatures plummeted to -3C overnight. The Met Office forecast predicts incoming thunderstorms, frost and heavy rain over the long weekend. After spates of glorious weather over the last few weeks, the mercury plunged as low as -3C in northern parts of Scotland last night. Elsewhere much of the UK hovered between 0C and 3C. But the turn in weather is just the beginning, with forecasters warning of possible thunderstorms coming in over the weekend. While it is mainly scattered showers, some storms may develop across northwest England and southwest Scotland. The rainy weather will gradually spread across the nation on Saturday, with Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday likely seeing both sunshine and showers. Today's forecast will see sunny spells across much of the UK, with temperature highs of 22C in the West Midlands. Figures will also hover at around 19C in the south east by the afternoon. Elsewhere, Northern Ireland will be hit by downpours but the mercury will reach highs of 15C. 4
The Sun
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Strictly star gets chance to reboot career with C5 doc revealing Britain's favourite motorway service station
Rod McPhee, TV Editor Published: Invalid Date, Never let it be said appearing on Strictly Come Dancing doesn't put you on the fast lane to renewed fame and fortune — just look at last year's runner-up Jb Gill. The former JLS singer turned farmer and TV host is getting the chance to reboot his career courtesy of Channel 5 with a one-off documentary on a surprising topic. Jb will host Britain's Favourite Service Station, in which he stops off to look at our long-standing love of these roadside retreats which, apparently, are something of a national institution. A TV insider said: 'Joking aside, this is a show that will probably get pretty impressive viewing figures. After all, service stations are a bit of a guilty pleasure for most of us. 'Though it is still a bit of a surprise to see someone has come up with the idea of devoting an entire show to looking at them. 'Even more surprising is the fact they've got a former pop star in as the host, but execs seem to think it will work.' Jb and his pro dance partner Lauren Oakley came second on Strictly last December after a sensational run on the 22nd series. He was originally paired with Amy Dowden, who had to drop out after week six due to illness. Since then he has been pretty quiet, despite the fact he has shifted his focus from JLS to carving out a television career. In the new hour-long show, Jb will be travelling up and down the nation's motorways, and discovering what makes some service stations more popular than others. This isn't all based on a random whim by Channel 5 chiefs, however. The show is in conjunction with a genuine poll by consumer champions Which? identifying the best and worst. Jb will be revealing which is our number one roadside stop-off, and which is parked at the bottom of the list. The suspense is killing me. Ekin-Su Culculoglu has landed a huge new Netflix show as her star continues to rise in the USA. The Love Island and Celebrity Big Brother star is now in reality series Inside, alongside a string of famous Americans. 4 She went to the States just after Love Island All Stars in January to film for the show, a huge YouTube hit which was then bought by Netflix. Ekin is a fan favourite there due to her stint last year on the US version of The Traitors. A TV source said: 'Ekin flew to America just after All Stars to film Inside and it's all wrapped and in the can.' Inside sees ten celebrities locked in a house where they compete for a prize fund. The source added: 'The irony that Ekin had such an awful time on Celebrity Big Brother but went and did another strikingly similar show won't be lost on telly fans.' The finale of Doctor Who 's latest series will be available globally in its first ever worldwide premiere. The Reality War will air on BBC One and Disney+ simultaneously in a prime-time evening slot on May 31. A synopsis teases: 'The Doctor is doomed, Belinda is lost, Ruby is trapped …' Sophie's Geordie u-turn Just weeks after quitting Geordie Shore amid a pay row, Sophie Kasaei has returned to the MTV series. Sophie, who has been on the hit reality show on and off since its 2011 debut, joined the rest of the cast in Portugal, alongside boyfriend Jordan Brook, after her team pulled a dramatic u-turn by coming to a resolution over wages. Insiders told me the dispute was resolved after eleventh-hour talks with show bosses. A source said: 'Execs were determined to keep Sophie in the show and didn't want to lose her, so after some last-minute meetings, they managed to secure a deal everyone was happy with. 'Sophie and Jordan missed the beginning of filming, but they stunned the cast over the weekend when they turned up to surprise everyone.' EastEnders is working with the Royal National Institute of Blind People on a new storyline as Lauren and Peter's son is diagnosed with a visual impairment. Struggling to settle Jimmy, Lauren (Jac Jossa) takes him for tests. The results shock her and Peter (Thomas Law). Elaine's seniors salute West End legend Elaine Paige will lead the cast of a new sitcom about retirement. Take a Bow, written by the mastermind behind the Johnny Vegas and Sian Gibson comedy Murder, They Hope, will look at ageing in a similar format to Netflix's popular Grace and Frankie. Elaine's own production company will be behind the series, which will feature an international cast to be announced soon. Writer Jason Cook teased to industry website Broadcast that the programme will aim to 'show that life really starts once you get that awful work stuff out the way'. Elaine added: 'It's a bold, funny celebration of friendship, freedom, and the joy of still being very much alive.'
Daily Mail
09-05-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE The new UK motorway cameras that caught almost 1MILLION drivers dangerously tailgating
Cameras installed on four major motorways to detect dangerous tailgating identified almost one million instances during groundbreaking UK trials, we can exclusively reveal. National Highways deployed state-of-the-art cameras designed to catch motorists following other vehicles too closely in pilot schemes running between 2017 and 2021. In total, 844,060 offences were recorded on the stretches of carriageway where the devices were temporarily located. The figures, obtained from National Highways via a Freedom of Information request by Select Car Leasing and shared with This is Money, have been revealed as drivers are reporting increasing instances of fellow road users sitting too close to their rear bumpers. In a poll of UK motorists, almost a third say they're victim to tailgating at least once a week - and half believe the offence has become more prevalent in the last two years. So, with the technology proving effective and drivers complaining of a rise in aggressive behaviour on the roads, are we set to see a rollout of tailgating cameras in the future? We asked National Highway... The Government department responsible for the nation's busiest trunk routes says tailgating is a factor in one in eight crashes on motorways and major A roads. Dangerous tailgating is a 'careless driving' offence, which is punishable by a minimum £100 fine and three points on a driving licence. However, more serious cases involving accidents are dealt with by the courts and potentially lead to a driving ban or even a prison sentence. Yet it is an offence that typically can only be enforced by officers witnessing instances on the road. However, between 2017 and 2021, trials took place to measure the 'capability of the camera technology to detect tailgating behaviour'. The first was carried out on the M3 over a two-month stint between October and the start of December 2017. Some 237,648 'possible offences' were identified. A year later, National Highways oversaw a near-12-month trial on the M6, which in 2018 spotted 319,787 cases of dangerous tailgating. Another year-long pilot on the M20 between 2018 and 2019 registered another 226,282 instances of drivers following too closely, while the last trial on the M1 motorway near Northampton between October 2020 and September 2021 witnessed another 60,343 instances. Yet despite hundreds of thousands of motorists being caught in the act, no enforcement action was taken against offenders during the trials. Only in the last trial - which was conducted in partnership with Northamptonshire Police - did repeat offenders get sent warning letters telling them to clean up their act. How close to the driver in front is tailgating? The Highway Code classifies tailgating as driving too closely behind another vehicle. It's dangerous and illegal. Instead, motorists should leave enough space between themselves and the vehicle in front so they can pull up safely if it suddenly slows down or stops. National Highways urges motorists to follow the so-called 'two-second rule' - allow at least a two-second gap between you and the vehicle in front on roads carrying faster-moving traffic and in tunnels where visibility is reduced. But the rules are more nuanced than that. The two-second gap should be increased to 2.4 seconds at 50mph and 3.1 seconds at 70mph. Furthermore, the gap should be at least doubled on wet roads and increased further still on icy roads. Will tailgating cameras be rolled out across the UK? Following the 2022 trial, National Highways head of road safety, Jeremy Phillips, said: 'Unfortunately, as highlighted by the M1 trial, we know that too many people are driving too close on our roads.' However, he attributed 'most tailgating' instances as being 'unintentional' mistakes by drivers who 'don't realise that they are infringing on someone else's space'. Despite the successful deployment of camera trials - and the arrival of new roadside devices that can identify tailgating as well as other illegal activity such as drivers using a phone behind the wheel - National Highways told us there are 'no plans at the present time' to roll out further trials or to make this type of technology permanent. When asked if cameras could be used to enforce tailgating endorsements in the future, a spokesman for the Government-operated division told us: 'This would be a decision for the relevant police forces as the enforcement body.' They added: 'Driving too close to the vehicle in front of you makes it difficult to stop in an emergency, and is a factor in one in eight collisions on our network. 'Safety is our number one priority and we, along with our enforcement colleagues in the police, will continue to explore all opportunities to make our roads safer.' National Highways previously attributed 'most tailgating' instances as being 'unintentional' mistakes by drivers who 'don't realise that they are infringing on someone else's space' Graham Conway, managing director at Select Car Leasing, said drivers would likely welcome camera technology to mitigate the scourge of tailgaters on Britain's roads. 'National Highways takes the view that most tailgating is unintentional and perpetrated by drivers who don't realise that they are infringing on someone else's space,' he said. 'But that's not how the drivers we surveyed see it. The vast majority - 68 per cent - equate tailgating with a sign of driver aggression. 'With tailgating a factor in so many accidents, and under the sheer volume of incidents identified by National Highways, a full roll-out of cameras designed to detect - and prosecute - those who get too close to the car in front would surely be welcomed by many motorists here in the UK.' In a poll of UK motorists, almost a third say they're victim to tailgating at least once a week - and half believe the offence has become more prevalent in the last two years Tailgating - an epidemic getting worse every year A separate Select Car Leasing survey - of 1,000 UK driving licence holders - shines further light on so-called 'space invaders' who plague UK roads. Tailgating was found to be the second worst trigger for road rage (35 per cent of respondents), with 'being cut up' taking top spot (39 per cent). Tailgating also happens with alarming regularity. Some 28 per cent said they experience it at least once per week, with one in 20 claiming to endure it daily. Of the respondents surveyed, 49 per cent said tailgating has become a bigger problem in the last 48 months while almost two thirds called for tougher police prosecution. That said, one in six in the panel revealed they have been spoken to by police regarding tailgating other motorists.
