I've not driven south in the morning for a while now - been lucky I guess. So I was wondering if someone (e.g. Humph) could comment on how busy some of the roads might be.
I need to get near Solihull for say 9:30am... route will probably be: M56, M6, M6 Toll and M42. If I leave at 7am should I get there for 9am?
Last edited by: rtj70 on Wed 15 Jun 11 at 15:33
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Yeah, should be OK. Do use the toll though. Plebs M6 will be horrible.
:-)
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Using the toll makes sense and I'll claim it back on expenses anyway. Stupid for me not to use it.
I am guessing the reverse route will have me stuck from J14 onwards of the M6. Usually problems with traffic around there heading north.
Edit: And thanks Humph.
Last edited by: rtj70 on Wed 15 Jun 11 at 15:42
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"If I leave at 7am should I get there for 9am? "
You wouldn't have done this morning!! - accident near J 12 southbound and virtually stationary queue for at least five miles approaching it, probably more because only hard shoulder "open" Southbound. I was going North (Coventry to Knutsford)and delay was about 30 mins and there was nothing obstructing Northbound. I came south again about mid-day and signs still saying long delays, so I cut off at A50 (J16) and then A 38, A446, M 42 to Coventry. It wasn't a bad route - about same distance and only about 15 mins longer according to satnav, though I made up time on that. Not sure what it would be like at 7-8am though.
M6 toll sounds a good idea to me - esp if you can claim it on expenses (I can't!)
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Thanks. Not travelled down the M6 at that time for probably a year or more to be honest. If I'm late not my fault. It's an internal course.
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You could see what the Tomtom IQ route planner on the web says, as you can tell it the start time and day.
routes.tomtom.com
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Crankcase did that before I posted. I also have iQ routes on the TomTom 720 although the maps are a couple years old.
TomTom said around 1hr 40min but how accurate is it...?
Anyone with a TomTom and a Mac that would like to run the TomTom software on the Mac without plugging in the TomTom via USB let me know. It does waste about 2Gb of space on my Mac to host the TomTom maps/software though. Handy all the same.
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"TomTom said around 1hr 40min but how accurate is it...?"
Well, I use mine every day for several car deliveries and I have to ring customers to say what time I will arrive. TomTom is dead accurate on motorways if you drive at 70 - think it takes an average speed of 65 as its basis. On "ordinary " roads it seems to estimate that you will average about 40mph so at quiet times you can often "make up " time. On the other hand, if you are driving virtually anywhere in the South-East, especially via Dartford crossing, and even more especially IN London, take the TomTom time, double it and add another hour and then allow for being late. If driving to Scotland, whether it be Glasgow, Aberdeen etc (or "oop North" except for certain problem places) and setting off from Midlands in the early hours the TomTom time will be accurate to within a minute or two.
1 hr 40 sounds about right for your trip, barring problems - allow an extra 30 mins and stop for a coffee near destination???
I think that you are travelling at worst time for traffic problems - my solution would be to set off far too early, get there far too early and find a Sainsburys, Tesco, Morrisons etc and have a full English breakfast for about £3 including coffee (There's a Tesco just off J4 of M42 to Shirley/Solihull and I can recommend their breakfast!! If you prefer a sausage/bacon/egg McMuffin there is a McDonalds on the same site and if you want a free coffee BMW Solihull is just up the road, walk in a help yourself to a coffee!!)
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I know the timing is not good. I'd prefer if the course started at 9am until 4pm. But people heading there from north and south (hence location).
I'll check out traffic on the phone (RAC traffic) before I leave too. Always have the fallback of live traffic camera feeds too.
I would go earlier but then I disturb everyone else in the house earlier ;-)
Last edited by: rtj70 on Wed 15 Jun 11 at 22:13
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"I would go earlier but then I disturb everyone else in the house earlier ;-)"
Not a problem here! SWMBO sleeps through almost everything (don't even go there!!!) and it has been known for my really early starts (to N Scotland/Cornwall etc)that she wakes me to get up as she's coming to bed!!
There's also Traffic England
www.trafficengland.com/motorwayflow.aspx?ct=true#mtf
for motorway news
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The App on Android from the RAC is pretty good. I think I have the Traffic England (still) installed. And the live camera feeds too via TrafficEye.
Obviously will be checking all of them when driving at 85mph (indicated).
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Check what is on at the NEC, if something big allow more time - possibly another 30 minutes.
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Thanks. I asked about last Thursday so been there and come back now.
I left around 7:20am in the end (stopped at a local cashpoint) and got there just before 9am. I used the toll road. Coming back took a little longer.
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Roads and Traffic from Manchester to the Midlands - Runfer D'Hills
