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Original poster

Road closure - why do people do this?

26 replies

DuckyMcDuck · 16/01/2021 20:31

The end of our road has been dug up.

There are 'Road Closed' signs at all junctions but we still have so many cars that ignore them and end up coming to the end of the road and having to turn around. It's a narrow road and most end up doing a 10 point turn and we're all a bit worried about our cars being pranged.

Do people just think the signs are just a joke? Why do they just ignore them?

OP posts:
YougoFargo · 16/01/2021 20:39

In my experience, if you turn around at the first road closed sign you’ll be about 2 miles too early!

Fuss · 16/01/2021 20:41

Our last house was in a dead end. The road was about a mile to that dead end. One day they decided to build a dual carriageway in the area.

EVERY man and his car decided there must be a short cut up there. There wasnt. For 3 years we endured angry motorists, and entire troupe of Hells Angels at 3am and dozens of lorry drivers who invariably got stuck and needed help turning around.
Finally, a month after the new road opened the council turned up and erected a 'no through road' sign. We still had lost HGV's on a regular basis.

So no, they don't read signs, they know better...apparently.

SpecialToffee · 16/01/2021 20:43

We had this last year when our road was closed (usually a fairly busy through road). Even had an Eddie Stobart lorry turning round one day. Bizarre!

BubblyBarbara · 16/01/2021 20:44

They are often telling porkies in my area! It’ll often be some obstacle you can still get round. Or more usual they leave the signs out for days after the work is finished! It is easier to just check and perhaps lose 30 seconds rather than turn around and guarantee it.

lifestooshort123 · 16/01/2021 20:45

Because the Road Closed sign doesn't apply to me Grin

Sparklesocks · 16/01/2021 20:45

I think sometimes it’s not always clear which road is closed (I’ve seen those signs smack in the middle of a crossroads before which no indication as to which way was closed - very confusing!), sometimes they think the closer they get to the closed road means finding a quicker diversion near it, and other times they haven’t noticed!

InsufferableLKIA · 16/01/2021 20:57

In my experience, if you turn around at the first road closed sign you’ll be about 2 miles too early!

This. When I see them, I tend to find it’s fine to ignore them completely. Usually it’s some obscure side road that’s closed which I didn’t want to go down anyway. They’re overused to the point of being utterly useless, round my way.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 16/01/2021 21:01

In our town there are several low rail bridges. Despite signs, they are regularly struck by tall vehicles. Or lorries attempting to do U turns to drive back the way they came as they get to the bridge and realise they can't get under.

Moneypenny007 · 16/01/2021 21:05

I work in construction, mainly building new roads or fixing existing roads.... its beyond a joke what people do. Jumping lights, following site vehicles through the works, stopping to look around them in the middle of a traffic light queue. Once had a woman stop because she kept looking down the hole we were digging beside the road and took vertigo. Except there was a line of cars behind her and more meeting her. It was a one lane road at the time. We had to reverse traffic and our foreman had to driver her to safety.
People are idiots

OwlWearingGlasses · 16/01/2021 21:08

Because often the road signs aren't accurate or the closure is a long way down from the signs.

BathshebaKnickerStickers · 16/01/2021 21:16

Because the signs only applied on Monday and Tuesday . It is now Sunday but the “collecting signs” van isn’t available until 3 weeks on Thursday

Drivemecrazy12 · 16/01/2021 21:16

I agree, they are never clear which road is shut and often left there ages after the road reopens. Add to that the fact that the signs are put out way before the closure.

Whiskysoda · 16/01/2021 21:17

Years ago I was filming on a street, a large crowd scene for a movie. So the street was closed. A driver thought he’d ignore the Road Closed sign and found himself on a street full of zombies, corpses and burnt out cars!

I bet he takes notice of Road Closed signs now, especially as he had to reverse back as there was no way he could turn around or drive through.

DeltaAlphaDelta · 16/01/2021 21:19

Because, quite frankly, the general public are stupid!

redcandlelight · 16/01/2021 21:24

it's because navigation systems tell them to drive there as often temporary road closures of minor roads are not included.

IScreamYouScreamWeAllScream · 16/01/2021 21:37

Too many times there is road closed signs and the road isn't actually closed or the closure is well after where you need to get to. One particular route I drive there is a "road closed" sign at least once a week. Generally totally rubbish and I just drove through

redsquirrelfan · 16/01/2021 21:40

I think people often think there must be access for residents, so they can get through. I've done it myself and every time I've been able to get through except once, when I did have to turn round and do a detour.

Often the road closed sign is in the wrong place, too.

I've no sympathy with bus and lorry drivers who hit railway bridges though. Even if it's a temporary diversion how can they just drive into something? Idiots deserve to lose their licences.

wellthatsunusual · 16/01/2021 21:43

About ten years ago there was a massive bomb abandoned on the main road between Belfast and Dublin, near the border at Newry. The road was closed and cones and signs were put up. Loads of motorists drove round the cones and the signs and decided to hang round next to a massive bomb because they were too important to drive round a diversion. Dickheads the lot of them. (Fortunately it was defused).

Al1langdownthecleghole · 16/01/2021 21:43

Because the sign says road closed ahead, without letting you now which road or how far down?

MollyButton · 16/01/2021 21:47

Road closure signs are often misleading, not clear if they mean the straight ahead road or a turn off. If they made them always clear about which road is closed then it would help.

If you divert at the first sign, often you waste time or have another diversion to get back to where you wanted.

Forgothowmuchlhatehomeschoolin · 16/01/2021 21:48

We had a road closed sign up for months near my work - no workmen appeared for a good 2 months and the road wasn't closed at all until they did the work which took a day or two but the sign was up for weeks

hansgrueber · 16/01/2021 21:49

@DuckyMcDuck

The end of our road has been dug up.

There are 'Road Closed' signs at all junctions but we still have so many cars that ignore them and end up coming to the end of the road and having to turn around. It's a narrow road and most end up doing a 10 point turn and we're all a bit worried about our cars being pranged.

Do people just think the signs are just a joke? Why do they just ignore them?

This is one o my pet hates, Road Closed, with no indication of where it's closed! One late night we were on the A14, heading for the A11 Norwich junction. When we got there there was a Road Closed sign, no indication of where it was closed, the A11 is 30+ miles long into Norwich!
A couple of times nearer home had we followed the 'diversion' we would have been on the wrong side of the road works from our destination. There always needs to be an indication of how far along is the road closed, especially on the country roads.
SarahAndQuack · 16/01/2021 21:51

Round where I am, they regularly set up 'road closed' signs at either end of a road that's well known to flood ... with just the minor detail that in the middle of a road is a busy supermarket. Sure, if I wanted to drive the next 500 yards on from the supermarket I'd expect to hit the floods, but since I know where the flood spot is and I know where I need to get to, I regularly ignore the 'road closed' sign and so does everyone else!

hansgrueber · 16/01/2021 21:51

@DeltaAlphaDelta

Because, quite frankly, the general public are stupid!
The idiots who put these Closures boards up without saying where it's closed are the real fools. Imagine the start of the M6 with a Road Closed Ahead sign, helpful, isn't it.
lljkk · 16/01/2021 21:52

Usually on a bicycle so usually can squeeze thru almost no matter what is happening.

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