DD has been stuck on the M5 for 6 hours

[GinForBreakfast]

I know there's been a serious incident but you can't leave people stuck on a motorway for 6 hours. That will include elderly people and tiny children. In other countries they manage to clear the roads far quicker.

No sign of anything moving and even once she does she's still 4 hours from home.

How?

Drive through a crash site?

Clearing a road in reverse is a major operation. They have to set up the detour far back, establish a blockade and then meticulously peel off the cars that are stuck and escort them the wrong way down the road. Even in other countries that takes time to execute. By the time it is ready to go, they may be able to open a lane which is much easier.

since she is going to be tired and she won’t be the only one, the best way to help would be to look for hotels in the area. If she manages to get out, she will likely want to sleep, but everyone else is going to have the same idea.

You can feel desperately sorry for people injured in car accidents and also for people trapped in jams as a result. One doesn't negate the other.

This wasn't a particularly long journey - was supposed to be a lift of 3 hours to where we were going to pick her up, an hour from where we live. 20 minutes into the journey and she got stuck for 6 hours and counting.

Find a near by stop over. Shower and sleep and she can start again tomorrow.

Obviously when traffic starts moving

If she's anywhere near Glos or going south then a teenager jumped off a bridge hence the closure

Your poor dd. I hate being trapped on the motorway.

She should use Waze if she isn’t already, it uses real times data to send you on the best route

https://www.waze.com/en-GB/live-map/

I do think they take too long to clear these things too, it’s awful to be stuck.

According to National Highways twitter the trapped traffic is being turned around so relief should be in sight.

Does your car not allow you to turn round? I see from posts since my last one that they are now turning the traffic, how does it take 6 hours to organise that?

Bad luck for your daughter, but unfortunately they CAN leave people on the motorway for 6 hours - or 8, or 10, or even more. I have known people trapped overnight - from 10pm to 8am (in snow.) And trapped in traffic snarl-ups for 6-8 hours... or more. I hope she gets home safely. At least (as pps have said,) she is not in an accident herself!

I agree this country is very poor at clearing road obstacles whether incidents or roadworks. Its rare to travel unaffected by them

My husband is an accident investigator. The initial accident and emergency care followed by investigations will take a few hours but not 5 and during that time the diversions should take place. Turning people around on a motorway and getting them off...do it! Road access is essential for emergency workers getting to other incidents. We shouldn't just accept it

Omg how awful 😢

In France they have designed in escape routes in between motorway junctions for this exact scenario.

I know people stuck - there was a 7mnth pregnant lady with a small toddler, its is really bad, but not as bad as the anguish parents of the girl who jumped - whom may not make it home for Christmas

The police are investigating a serious incident. A child has been taken to hospital with serious injuries. What would you like them to do? Give the carriageway a sweep with a broom and forget about investigating what is potentially a crime scene. Ffs!

What do you propose the do? I am certain this does happen in other countries. Either that or it her countries don't bother investigating fatalities.

You would have abandoned your car on the motorway…can OP pick someone up from a gridlock motorway 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 please for the love of god stop driving.

As someone who has been stuck in a similar situation (M74 in snow) I totally get it’s shit for DD but (even though it doesn’t feel like it when you’re stuck, bursting for the toilet, and hungry in equal measure) emergency services will do everything they can to clear it as quickly as possible, hopefully she’s home in bed in her fluffiest jammies soon xx

That’s a major operation, and one that isn’t taken lightly so would never be the first option.

Do you think that everyone who is stuck, 6 hours of backlogged traffic, just needs to allow their car to turn around?

Investigating an incident and freeing traffic from the back of the queue aren't mutually exclusive activities.

Read the ehloful post from @BobbleHatsRule if you can't work out how the two things can happen in tandem

'Can she not just turn her car around' is the most batshit comment on this thread. Peak Mumsnet 😂

@DreamW3aver PLEASE tell us you are not a driver! 😱

Oh yes they do. I live in Spain and have seen some horrific accidents, but the Emergency service manage to get one lane open at least.
Im sorry that a family has been devastated by this accident but life needs to keep moving

How is it a 'crime scene' though that requires all of those services, if it was just a person who jumped?

I'm so sorry for the girl who did and really hope she pulls through.

I ALSO feel sorry for your DD and everyone else stuck- it's shit.

Reminder to self to put food and drinks in my boot tomorrow.

I'm sure the family of the person who has been harmed/possibly killed will be chuffed to hear you say that.

FFS!

Wow .Cant believe how many people think inconvenience trumps potential fatalities. Nobody will be deliberately keeping people stranded. Yes it’s unpleasant frustrating etc but have some compassion. Saying other countries do it better… I despair

FFS - obviously for once she does start moving rather than having to do the full four hour drive home.

When something like this happens they must know that it’s going to be hours before they can open the motorway, so why don’t they close the earlier junction and turn people around? What’s the reason for waiting several hours before doing that? Presumably there is a reason?