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.

If there's been a fatality then the police have to gather evidence before opening the motorway, taking measurements of skid marks on the road, taking photos etc. as they may decide that a crime had been committed. There may also be barrier repairs and resurfacing.
I got trapped on the ring road around Bristol when an accident happened. Its a section where its in a bit of a cutting surrounded by open fields. It took 4 hours to get moving. There is no hard shoulder and has a central barrier for the full length of the road. The air ambulance had to find somewhere to land. the police had to get all the cars to turn around and return up the carriageway we'd originally come down, squeezing between the 2 lanes of cars in the queue. Then get about 50 lorries to turn around too on the dual carriageway. The police were then manually directing the traffic around the roundabout at the top.

A teenage girl has been taken to the hospital with serious injuries. Just be grateful that your DD is OK.

On a motorway ? Really ?

Youre tagging the wrong person

But that aside have you asked the police who are organising turning the traffic round if they know how to drive. Clearly you've never been in a situation where they do it.

Its not like everyone randomly decides to do it themselves

Your poor DD! I hope she gets home soon! I really feel for everyone affected.

this kind of thing really scares me since becoming a mum, being stuck with my baby who in a situation like this would be utterly hellish.

I had this once when trying to get to the Peak District for a weekend with friends, but as I drove past the screens were up, and there was a death.
I remind myself when I'm stuck in traffic, I will get to my end point, late but safe. Someone's life and their families life has changed tonight, forever, they will never be the same. Yes your daughter hasn't had the trip she planned but she's safe.
Book her a hotel nearby and she can try again tomorrow.

It is awful

however. Your daughter is safe and well, someone is having a much much worse and probably won’t make it home tonight. The emergency services are dealing with something catastrophic.
god forbid it was your family member, you would want it properly investigated and looked into.

Oh, dear god.
'You can't leave people stuck on a motorway...'. Yes, you can.
No point trying to compare to other countries, geography completely different.
If you set off on a journey, be prepared.

@GinForBreakfast imagine if all that money wasted on so called smart motorways was actually spent on things like those escape routes.
People will be needing urgent medication, the loo and all sorts and even falling ill suddenly without help.
The elderly, infirm, possibly some very new babies will all be stuck

A pedestrian was hit and killed by a lorry. It's a far bigger job for the emergency services than the average road collision.
Sorry your daughter is stuck but it's extenuating circumstances unfortunately.

But that doesn't necessarily solve the issue. I'm not sure about the M5 through Gloucestershire but we've been caught out further south when the motorway has been closed because of an accident. We were able to exit the motorway but just ended up spending 4 hours sitting in the car in Yatton instead.

No I'm not 'tagging the wrong person.' YOU said (at 22.20 on this thread...)

Does your car not allow you to turn round?

I did not tag the wrong person.

Again, PLEASE tell us you are not a driver! 😱

.

https://gloucesternewscentre.co.uk/teenage-girl-taken-to-hospital-after-incident-on-m5/?amp=1

It s tough for your dd and a lesson in being prepared on any car journey with snacks water sheewee etc....but much tougher for the family of the teenager

This.
People are so selfish and self-centred

And why don’t you read the post from @Ponderingwindow and others who actually know how these things work and how complex it is before deriding the people trying to sort this?

I'd book her in too for when she gets moving
Prob too tired for a 4 hour drive now

Whereabouts on the M6? According to the traffic facility on google maps there are no major incidents/holdups on the motorways atm.

As I said I feel sorry for the family affected, but to keep a road closed for 6+ hours isnt great either, people with medical issues, pregnant women, all sorts of life threatening issues could be happening. So yes the young women who jumped... heartbreaking...but there are another 1000 people who may also be affected

What happened?

M5

I despair. 😖

I'm sorry to hear that your DD is stuck as that's truly crap - however I suspect a closed motorway like that is actually a result of an extremely serious crash with multiple deaths/permanant and disabling injuries, which is why it takes so much time to clear.
So try to be glad that it's not you getting the call no parent could ever bear this evening.

How do you suggest they get the traffic moving more quickly Bert?

Honestly, maggots have more compassion than some of you lot.

A teenager is in hospital, seriously injured after jumping from a bridge. Imagine the anguish she was going through to make her want to do that in the first place. I can’t even begin to wonder how her parents are feeling, but I hope to god they all get the support they need and she pulls through. Sitting on a motorway is nothing compared to that. At least your DD is coming home.

I hope the road clears soon and your DD gets through. We’ve been stuck for hours a couple of times.