Tonight came up to a crossroads with traffic lights not working. Slowly approached, as you do, when I suddenly realised there was a policewoman controlling the traffic.
She had her "stop" hand pointed at me whilst beckoning the traffic from my left to progress. But from my angle, there was very little reflective about her.
But.. she was almost invisible. Stood in the middle of the crossroads. She did have reflective gear on but it just wasn't effective when you have headlights pointing in 4 directions and she is in the middle.
I remember a few years ago, after an accident in Broxburn in which a friend's colleague died whilst on duty, the police were issued with portable blue flashing lights to be placed on the road to protect them. I think they should consider something similar when they are doing duties like this.
Incidentaly, when I passed through, there was a police van parked up with about 10 officers - looked like it was maybe a training session for them.
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I regularly worked a traffic point on Deansgate, Manchester in the mid 60s.
We had only white sleeve covers and gloves. When it got dark we could switch on a spotlight high on a lamp-post on the corner. A white mac was provided for rainy days.
I quite enjoyed it....power trip, I suppose ! Traffic lights there now !
I guess it's a skill long forgotten now.
Ted
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...I guess it's a skill long forgotten now...
Same as foot patrol, which as a copper once explained to me, is something of a craft.
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>> This might help....... ;-)
>>
>>
>> tinyurl.com/63mfexb
how very jim davidsonesque
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Long before the motorway went over Glasgow, many of the busy crossings were controlled by traffic wardens, might have been some police officers too, Gorbals rings a bell.
Either way they were fantastic at the job, a blur of waving arms, selectively pointing out the odd right turner to go with hardly a break in the traffic, it was worth standing and watching them for a while.
Far better than the huge majority of traffic light controlled junctions, as they used their wits and judgement and eye contact so drivers would be ready to go when they have the signal.
A lost art.
Had an interesting manoeuver this week in the truck, obviously serious crash just happened during the pitch black but luckily warm and dry evening on a good unlit quietish B road i use regularly, Police closed the road and the officer said it would be shut for hours, ominous, they'd just shut the main junction to get on this road after i'd passed which is just about my luck..;)
After a couple of minutes whilst i alerted the few cars who came up behind so they could turn round the officer returned to me after he'd laid out some more blue flashers and signs and asked me what i was going to do.
I said i'd reverse down the fairly twisty road on the correct side for travelling, so any cars would be met by my reversing lights and hazards as a normal approaching vehicle until i reached a turning point, i knew nothing save an emergency vehicle would be coming from my front, i could see the lights of a farm some distance away, i think they wanted rid of me anyway..;)
Decent stick that he was he said OK let me get a head start and i'll walk in front of you, which he did complete with flashing blue lights, a few cars came including more police on blues, eventually after a mile or more we found a decent entrance and i turned round and cleared off, offering sincere thanks for his trouble, and meant it, i could have been there all night.
Brompton recently mentioned the B4525 for the LED cats eys, they proved invaluable for this nights events.
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I wonder if this is why drivers can't be bothered to indicate nowadays. If you approached someone on traffic control duties, it'd be necessary to indicate if you were turning.
Then again, there weren't any Audis and Beemers around in the days of coppers on point duty. ;>)
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"I wonder if this is why drivers can't be bothered to indicate nowadays. ......"
2 possible scenarios:
1. Spare hand on mobile phone.
2. Just cant be bothered after all its a real chore. Anyway I'm alright jack.
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Does the Highway Code still have those pictures of hand signals to give a policemen on point duty to indicate which way you want to go? There's one for wanting to go straight on, as I recall.
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>> Does the Highway Code still have those pictures of hand signals to give a policemen
>> on point duty to indicate which way you want to go?
Yes - www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_digitalassets/@dg/@en/documents/digitalasset/dg_070565.pdf
('Arm signals to persons controlling traffic')
Last edited by: Focus on Mon 3 Oct 11 at 09:23
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Thanks - its somehow comforting to see some things haven't changed. I thought they might have gone, along with flaming torches and the hand signal "I am willing to be overtaken".
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Police Traffic Control - Harleyman
