WHO ON EARTH DID THIS? Police called! M6 Smart Motorway…

Hello KZbinrs!
Welcome back to another one!
So tonights video is some footage I captured on the smart motorway from an incident on the M6 motorway between junction 14 and 13 on the South Bound, we tried to get some assistance from highways but we had no joy!
Big Thanks to CMPG Central Motorway Police Group for attending!
Hope you enjoy this video, let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
IF you enjoy the content, you know what to do....
LIKE, COMMENT, SHARE, SUBSCRIBE!
Make SURE your 🔔 notification is TURNED ON! 👌
If you are involved in an INCIDENT and require our assistance CALL US!
ONE CALL TO GDB AND THE JOB GETS DONE! ✅
24HR CONTROL ROOM
STAFFORDSHIRE - 01785-258655
SHROPSHIRE - 01952-455000
DERBYSHIRE - 01332-414660
DONT FORGET to hit me up on the SOCIALS!
FACEBOOK - GDB RESCUE AND RECOVERY
INSTAGRAM - MR GDB _
MERCHANIDSE - www.GDBRescueandrecovery.co.uk/shop
PRESS / MEDIA - Email [e-mail]
Huge Thanks for the 18,000 + Subscribers!
STAY TUNED every FRIDAY for ANOTHER UPLOAD!
Thanks for watching.
MR GDB over and OUT!

[@elliottsw]

So they can put a 40mph limit on the whole motorway at 3am for "report of debris" at every speed camera but can't restrict lane 1 when there are people in danger? Disgusting.

[@teamdarkhorse]

yeh and in middle of noght reduce speed to poor aor quality. they must think we floated up the thames on a dry biscuit.

[@jack6450]

@@CaptainBlack.1 On the M25 recently I saw lanes 1 & 2 suddenly drop down to 30mph with the other two right next to me at 60 and then all back to 70 again, all within the space of a few hundred yards. I could swear they have coked up marmots running those things. Wouldn't be surprised if some got fined for their stupidity.

[@chrisbevis7725]

They employ dummies!

[@mickd8972]

yep we had gantry warnings M1 south lane 1 and 2 closed for roadworks reduced speed 40 mph from j 18-14 4 junctions ! massive traffic jam and when you got to 14 not a cone or any roadworks/workers phoned highways (or whatever they are called this week) to ask why they said its to protect the roadworkers i said there are no roadworkers and when people continuously see restrictions and see no road works eventually human nature will just say blow this there is never any roadworks and they will drive in the closed lanes i see it all the time unfortunately that will be the day a roadworker gets killed my point to highways make your signage relevant if you state roadworks make sure there are road works .in this instance a fellow hgv driver came past the same section 2 hours after me same signs same traffic jam and still no roadworks

[@paulwainwright6903]

Loads of times we get this on the m6 it is always the same there is never anything wrong so they then wonder why nobody takes any notice ? We have a rolling messages report of debris , report of animals on road , report of people on motorway , queue , broken down vehicle , 50 mph or 60 mph when the traffic is very light this usually lasts a few bridges and you can see the national speed sign on the next bridge . These are on the m6 between j17- 15 south bound being the worst . Now if there is a report of debris why are the police or the plastic police / highways not out sorting it instead of sat in the gateway on Sandbach services ? Bloody hopeless the lot of them , unemployable just another government agency that doesn't work but full of self important people.

[@WillMorgan89]

It's no wonder people have died on these so-called "smart motorways". I always worry about breaking down on them with my young family in the car. It's criminal that they allowed the emergency phone to ring out and were totally unwilling to help. I should highlight this to your local MP.

[@joehamilton9796]

Totally agree

[@gdwnet]

I was pro smart motorway then I had a breakdown on the M25. The car cut out and I had to push it from lane 2 to the hard shoulder. If it had been a smart motorway and I hadn't been near a refugee I would have been truly screwed. It was absolutely terrifying and I very quickly changed my view on smart motorways.

[@KevinLee-ww3ny]

I used to be a recovery man and can remember the first hateoes as we soon named them "almost" totally useless. And remember the M25 becoming "smart" 😂 hate the things. How are you supposed to get out of that stupid short lay-by?

[@gdwnet]

@@KevinLee-ww3ny _How are you supposed to get out of that stupid short lay-by?_ You put a call in to highways England, they put a lane closure on lane one long enough for you to get out. That's why they have that one minute lane closure rule.

[@WillMorgan89]

@@gdwnet if they answer the phone.

[@leswoolmer66]

About 4 years ago I lost a tyre from my caravan just before one of these ERA's. Pulled in and used the emergancy phone to contact Highways who said they could see me on camera but they wouldn't help but they would send an ambulance if needed. Called Green flag who arrived and asked for lane closure because he had to change offside wheel but they said it wasn't their problem. The guy had to lay close to caravan as possible because lorries were encroaching on ERA area but suddenly all traffic stopped and the guy took advantge and finished the job. I walked up the road a few metres and found the police had closed the m25 because they had reports of a tyre running down the road. Police said they would hold the traffic so we could get out. The highways group are usless. All MP's need to see this and give highways a good kicking.

[@markwright3161]

Put highways, the MPs and all the rest in a line going around in a circle and they can all kick each other :)

[@Vids158]

That old Nokia phone goes with the DAF legendary

[@GuyChapman]

My lad is buying one, deployed to “locations where smart phone usage is forbidden”. Pointing at tanks for His Majesty.

[@fanman4230]

Years ago I had to recover a vehicle with a fuel pump failure from the M1. I was using a car and trailer and had to hand winch the broken down vehicle onto the trailer. Believe me my head was on a swivel the whole time. Once loaded I had to get up to speed on the hard shoulder before pulling into traffic. It was, i'm glad to say, my one and only motorway breakdown. Nothing but admiration for the guys that do this on a regular basis.

[@pjweds]

Every one of the Highways staff (control room based) should spend a day with you doing a recovery on the motorway just to see the problems you have first hand. Then perhaps they might have a different attitude to risk and the problems you have with traffic running so close on the nearside lane. Love the videos Greg..

[@GDBRescueandrecovery]

Appreciate the comment GDB

[@ThePopeNuker]

Staff go on ride outs with traffic officers regularly.

[@bigmarc1008]

I work on the electronic equipment on the Mway on behalf of NH, been doing it for over 20 years, it was so much better organised and easier to deal with when the Police ran it all. So much more professional than the idiots in the NH control rooms these days. I blame lack of training and very poor guidance from the management of the NH.

[@deanrogers8381]

@bigmarc1008 ,I see that you over look the basic fact that the police didn't want it, hence why it was passed to NH! The police passed the buck.

[@imagseer]

@@deanrogers8381 Police re-prioritizing resources due to cuts. It is the government which underfunds the police.

[@ShrekVapeReviews]

19:49 that is a highways/VDSA/VOSA vehicle right there, driving past, lane 1 behind the HGV

[@kiradotee]

Wow

[@pocky1scot1]

Yeah but he could be going to any other job, or finished work for the day...

[@ktj0070]

that looked like a ford galaxy, so vosaldvsa........ im surprised they didnt pull in and issue a ticket........

[@markchapman1757]

DVSA

[@ShrekVapeReviews]

@@markchapman1757 a lot of coach drivers call the VDSA as they are like Thrush

[@johnabruzzi9145]

Good call on calling triple 9 mate, highways need to sort themselves out

[@lordbyrom100]

I think the people who say that smart motorways are safe if not safer than old motorways.should go on a week out with these brave recovery guys

[@deanrogers8381]

Smart motorways are as safe as motorways with hard shoulders, and as for those 'who say it is safe should go out with this guy for a week'. Well, here goes, I work on that exact stretch of motorway, do far far more on it than this bloke and it is safe! Also, if he is such an expert I can list a whole load of stuff he is doing wrong in this very video. He isn't the expert he, and you, think he is!

[@edwardcullen1739]

And look at the statistics. Can't remember if it's ONS, Highways or Parliamentary, but the data shows they are MUCH more dangerous than traditional hard-shoulder motorways.

[@deanrogers8381]

@edwardcullen1739 The data doesn't show that. Infact the data shows that mile for mile they are as safe as motorways with hard shoulders. And incidentally, 5 times safer than duel carriageways with the same speed limits!

[@occasionalyirasciblegit4084]

You would have been hung up to dry if you had attempted to move that van and an incident had occurred. We broke down on a 50 mph dual carriageway; we were fortunate enough to be able to make it into a field gateway well out of the traffic, with sufficient room to spare for recovery. The breakdown attendant loaded our car, hitched our trailer, we boarded and he waited patiently for a gap in the traffic. I am a retired artic driver; I habitually observed the traffic clearance and was impressed with his judgement when he finally decided to roll. Approximately twelve seconds after leaving the site there was an enormous bang and the trailer was turned upside down and scraping along on it's roof. Some dizzy bint ( a retired police officer's daughter ) drove into the rear of the trailer, flew over a ditch, came to rest with the car on it's side in a copse, with the boot in the ditch ( presumably after it had rebounded from one of the larger saplings ). Remarkably she vacated the car unaided and managed to call daddy. Dad arrived almost as quickly as the traffic boys, he had a quiet word with the constables in attendance ( not quiet enough to prevent my nosey wife from overhearing that this was the third time she had pranged a car recently, that she had just finished a workout at the gym and was probably tired ); she was ushered into an ambulance and the doors closed ( for privacy I assume ); the driver was detained, breathalysed and questioned for half an hour; curiously the traffic boys were not interested in our twopennyworth ( although my wife hinted that she had overheard the earlier little discussion ). In my career I have been recovered and had tyre replacements on many occasions, mostly on and from the hard shoulder of motorways; knowing the perilous conditions that the recovery operators face, it is my opinion that this was a disgraceful disregard of safety on the part of the highways agency. Nobody likes motorway holdups; nobody wants to be a statistic either. They should have bloody well closed the lane at the first request; if not as a matter of course after observing the lay by occupancy. That would have at least helped exonerate you in the event of an incident.

[@chrisbevis7725]

The police officers daughter no doubt got away scot free - your wife should have complained to the chief of police of the attending officers station.

[@user-fd7gp1fd4w]

This was in an era bay, hence a safe location, highways as police do not have unlimited resources, all units dealing with other jobs, ie Rtc’s live lane breakdowns, the wet phone could be faulty, a lane 1 electronic closure was offered,as this was a era bay, live lane jobs and Rtc’s would come as a priority,

[@markredman5032]

The Highways Agency total laziness and lack of action is absolutely disgusting and they should be investigated for that. Another government owned department where the default answer to anything is always NO before any question is asked or request is made.

[@Crusader804]

Highways Agency are a bunch of " jobsworths" that are doing that job because they are about as handy as a pig with a knife and fork.🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷

[@Sonya_Makepeace]

Any government office with the name "Agency" in its title, should be treated with caution.

[@cdsmith1990]

@@Sonya_Makepeace Hasn't been called 'Highways Agency' for almost a decade.

[@telx2010]

They will thoroughly investigate themselves 😂

[@colintuffs568]

Years ago I was told with any contact of an official nature first question " the name of you supervisor / boss etc ? " 😂

[@user-df1ts4od4g]

Hi bud I work as a recovery driver myself in the Telford area and was nearly taken out just because someone was on the phone not paying attention people need to realise how dangerous this job actually is

[@MrJordanwain]

The ERA should have a ground loop for vehicle detection like the traffic lights use to pick up waiting vehicles and illuminate a sign to say the ERA is occupied - you make a good point as no one else can use the lay-by while it’s occupied.

[@yeomancam8746]

That's not a bad idea! Plus it could alert other drivers to take extra care in lane 1

[@RozzerMildred97]

They do have ground loops in them I believe

[@ThePopeNuker]

They have ground loops which will alert the control room that it is occupied. Same as if there’s something in live lane

[@samk4128]

​@@ThePopeNuker But the control room seems to do nothing about that!

[@kevgray.]

I was a tyre fitter for 16 years and I've attended a hell of a lot of breakdowns on the motorway and I've never snapped as many studs as they have.. I did notice that a lot of the blowouts were down to incorrect tyre pressures and the road surface especially the new concrete style road surface's😊

[@matthewcrowther]

Problem with these “smart” motorways are they’re controlled by people who aren’t so smart….

[@m3dus455]

the whole concept and bods running it are the opposite of smart ....and they smell like a fart !!!

[@edwardcullen1739]

😂 God bless the education system!

[@ianbentley-rb7hs]

There is NOTHING smart about a so-called "Smart Motorway".

[@telx2010]

​@@edwardcullen1739Indoctrination system more like 😂

[@edwardcullen1739]

@@telx2010 😉

[@stephenward8707]

No highways attended !!! Very very sad , you can tell with the noise of passing vehicles what difference a couple of flashing lights from the traffic car can make ....why oh why didn't highways put an x on the lane ...beyond me ...cracking job mate worth a pat on the back for that one .

[@chrislynn1152]

At least the cops stayed and made sure the job was done safely

[@AndreA-ke2id]

One of the biggest problems with smart motorways is this. If you had to stop on on the old style hard shoulder and were able to get going again you had the length of the hard shoulder to get up to the speed of the traffic before joining the carriageway again. It's impossible to do this from a smart lay-by. So, how on earth can any driver get back on the carriageway safely. Also bear in mind there are so many drivers out there who haven't a clue and will just pull out and, disaster !!

[@Spookyb329]

you have to request a lane closure! Perhaps its less than 60 seconds so they will allow it? Lucky enough to have not needed to try.

[@jack6450]

@@Spookyb329 I believe that's how it works yes, but it's still a massive waste of human resources and is highly unreliable as demonstrated in this video.

[@mickd8972]

And can you imagine how safe us HGV drivers feel at 44 ton my truck will do 9 gear changes before i reach 25 mph so im now in a live lane foot flat to the floor it probably takes me 300yds to get upto 56 mph on the old smarter motorway the one that had a proper safety lane (hard shoulder)that was not an issue this not so smart motorway just puts everyone at risk

[@elishabee2]

The sign in the ERA says to call control on the phone before attempting to leave. Depending on traffic levels/speeds, nature of emerging vehicle, confidence of driver, they will drop the limit and/or put "vehicle emerging" on the matrix signs.

[@Classic_Re-creation]

Just for future reference the sheer strength on a standard M14 wheel bolt is 4200kg. And the weight of the van is sat on the spigot in the centre of the wheel , the weight of the van is not directly on the wheel nuts/bolts.

[@johnturnbull7798]

Normally I would agree with your sensible comment but if you review the images of the broken studs, it looks like like they broke at pre-existing cracks implying that in the past someone had put the wheel on and considerably over torqued the wheel nuts. He could not guarantee the remaining stud was not going to break. Had the stud broken and the wheel rolled off into the carriageway, resulting in an accident he would have been responsible and likely held liable.

[@comradebismarck]

​@johnturnbull7798 uhm let me thing how about one person stands next to the wheel and if it does start to come off someone can catch it? This ain't no 22.5 inch trailer or truck tyre it's a car tyre nothing special! No need for lane closures! Just wasting time to write more hours on the bill!

[@chizzle6237]

All that time bitching that could've bin on and gone....

[@Classic_Re-creation]

@@johnturnbull7798 if the van had done thousands of miles since the wheel was put on and the bolts didn't snap why would it just decide to snap now. The surviving wheel bolt doesn't know it's the only one left and doesn't have the decision making power to just shear off at will. After all the other 4 bolts didn't shear off untill some one tried to take them out.

[@markwright3161]

@@Classic_Re-creation It spent thousands of miles as 1 of 5 not 1 of 1. Even in a weaker state, it only had to take 20% (not exactly but near enough for easy maths sake) of the load it had to take while being pulled onto the truck's bed. Many things are rated to a certain weight, and even need to be able to take double that to get certified at that value, but very little can actually take 5 times the weight it's meant to/could previously. You could probably carry 10 kg in one hand for thousands of metres (with rest, etc, like the van will have done), but try to move 50 kg (or 5 times whatever you could lift and carry for that amount of time) in 1 hand only a fraction of a metre and I think it would sip out of your hand before you got it there. If their strength was reduced to 10% of what it was rated for, so 420kg each from what you've said, all 5 could still manage with over 2'000kg, so well above half the weight on that axle, but at only 420kg with a single bolt, suddenly it's a problem. It's also not an even spread of weight as with the 5 on there, so it will be trying to twist, so the loading is very different than the standard stresses it was designed to cope with, even if it's still comfortably above the strength that last bolt had in it (under normal conditions). Cylindrical tins can take tonnes of force pushing outwards from liquid, but can dent from a tiny point load pushing inwards.

[@jackboggis270]

They won't do a lane 1 for 10 minutes. How about a full closure for 6 hours if the worst happens and someone is struck???!!!

[@MichelleMM144]

Hi Greg, I came across your video purley by chance and am so glad that I did. I found it really fascinating. 👍🏻 You seriously are up there as a valued member of our emergency services and I appreciate how you put your lives at risk just because some person on the "smart (Not!) motorway" would not assist you with this dangerous senario. I thank you Greg. Please keep safe. ❤xx

[@marierussell7583]

Only just come across your you tube channel and Facebook. Your a thoroughly decent chap. Just been watching the video of the couple on the M6 who wanted to cancel your services and walked out onto the live lane. For some reason it wouldn’t let me comment. Totally agree with the way you handled the situation. Hopefully I’ll never need your services but keep up the great work you do. Look forward to seeing more of your videos. Stay safe and take care.

[@Ambza54321]

Highly agree, handled the situation with the upmost professionalism and was still willing to do the job for them despite the sh*t he was receiving from the customer. 5* keep up the amazing work. I loved how you decided to let them find someone else. Act like a child, get treated like one. Well done 👏🏻

[@Vicflange247]

I've just stumbled across your channel, I love the content and your dry wit with the traffic wombles, keep up the good work buddy

[@MiChAeLgAmEr1984]

love watching your videos watch every single one of them keep up the good work greg

[@philipcrascall5860]

Get it on and get moving job done

[@TheSimonn1]

Went on complaining long enough I think more to rubbish other recovery people off and while being on a motorway with hi visibility vest not long sleeve jacket 😮

[@keithhall7808]

This muppet is a drama queen with his stupid typed comments and the way he goes on with himself

[@carliem9494]

Huge respect to all you guys. My brother was an RAC Patrolman for many years and two guys he worked with lost their lives attending breakdowns - and that was before the advent of the so-called Smart motorways, so there were useable laybys. I’ve only been stuck due to a breakdown once and that was on an A road, with a layby .... and that was scary enough!

[@Scrooge911]

A great video, well filmed and clear and concise. well done mate, you're a re star!

[@markmawson1]

This is what should be taught when doing your driving lessons and driving test about when seeing any type of flashing beacons is move over 1 lane, whenever i see any recovery vehicles i always move over as a courtesy to the vulnerable people there "Professional Drivers " should know better and have sympathy towards Recovery vehicles as they are the most likely to complain when they are being recovered about vehicles not moving over for their safety.

[@IANREA]

Long time ago they would close the lane, and how are you expected to leave the ERA bay once ready. From a standing start into a lane with a 70 mph limit

[@ravenrebel2118]

Not normally what I watch, But I did and throughly enjoyed your video this is my 3rd video now. Good stuff

[@dickydoodle]

While ever we have people saying you should have just loaded the van and stopped messing about we will never eliminate preventable accidents, you did exactly right.

[@hotpotato4027]

Well maybe, if he’s wearing the appropriate health and safety clothing at all times who knows 😉 You know the expression, ‘all the gear, but no idea` lol

[@daboy12s]

@@hotpotato4027 a high viz vest isnt going to do much when a wheel comes off and hits a car in lane 1!

[@hotpotato4027]

@@daboy12s I’m very disappointed, did you not sense the air of sarcasm in my comment? I thought from your comment that you had noticed another commenter, qwerty####, who seems to be gunning for Greg the channel creator…criticising him for not wearing complete or appropriate hi-viz amongst other method of working things. Edit: my ‘all the gear` comment was a reference to qwerty####, the anonymous critic!

[@dickydoodle]

All this guy has in his first aid kit is a shovel.

[@Blackwater_House]

I spent 24 years in Emergency Vehicle Crash Rescue and lost Two Friends, Killed by an oncoming Car, that didn’t see them until the last moment, despite all the Flashing Emergency Warning Lights and Hit them on the Footpath next to their Emergency Vehicle. Absolutely I would take every Precaution available to Me.

[@stephenrobbins9901]

That's like waiting for something bad to happen, all that time could have been on the wagon, too stressful by far

[@Knight-Rider01]

The other guy needs to be told to get out of his van and wait behind the barrier. Even in an ERA there is a small risk getting struck by passing vehicles. It’s just not worth the risk.

[@m3dus455]

you literally are the best recovery on the british shores ... big up your chest !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@gavshomebrew]

You did the Wright thing calling in on the 9's I have worked with staffs police and control room for years and always. Found them helpful

[@samstainer2288]

Good to know the police service is at hand and willing to help. Highways agency what ever they are called not really worth the money they are paid for if they don’t do anything. Specially as you called them in advance. I would formally complain.

[@MikeyRussell88]

Highways like every other public service has been cut to the bone thanks to our government and autistry. safety and lives should always come first.

[@heavyhaulage1]

@@MikeyRussell88 cut to the bone or too many chiefs and not enough Indians?

[@AI-Records24]

@@MikeyRussell88as always with public services, there is plenty of funds they are just mismanaged

[@deanrogers8381]

​@motivationmedication , really? And you base that on what exactly? What is your experience of these things, do pray tell!

[@AI-Records24]

@@deanrogers8381 I have eyes and a brain

[@christopherhand1092]

Love ur channel Greg ur videos are great! You and other recovery drivers need to start a big campaign and get ur voices heard this is ridiculous

[@mrcurmudgeon6256]

You could not pay me enough to do this job. Hats of.

[@johnloveys6855]

Just subscribed. Live near Doxey !! Hard shoulders are very very dangerous places . When I did my speed awareness course they said survival time is 27 mins . Meaning you have 27 mins before you may be wiped out !!!!

[@tonyford7987]

Should have driven the van on and got out of there! Get out danger as quick as you can!

[@unexplained5239]

Good job Greg. Safety first!! Employees of traffic control centers in the Netherlands monitor the situation on the road live 24/7 via cameras for traffic management and incident management. With a red cross they can immediately close a lane. A recoverytruck is immediately deployed. (contractors) This can be arranged within 10 minutes, especially in the big cities. Why no camera at the beginning of the lay-by? 🤷‍♂

[@qwertyasdof25]

They can do the same in the UK, but he doesn’t meet the basic safety for working on motorways… he was over reacting and could have started loading without issue

[@queeg6473]

@@qwertyasdof25 and if the wheel had fallen off and the van fell over onto its side into live traffic causing a pile up he would have been at fault. So no, he couldn't start loading.

[@qwertyasdof25]

@@unexplained5239 I’ve called the Highway Agencies regularly for help without issues, I cover more high risk roads and motorways than Greg does, BUT its hypocritical to complain about Health and Safety when he isn’t wearing the right kit or getting out the right side of the truck 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@qwertyasdof25]

@@queeg6473 the chances of the wheel coming off where slim to none, if he wanted to lower the odds further then skates and the low approach bed would have done that, however its hypocritical to moan about Highways performance when he’s not wearing the right kit.

[@unexplained5239]

@@qwertyasdof25 Maybe you have a point there. I'm not familiar with UK hi-Viz standards. Wearing yellow hi-viz is not allowed for road workers, construction workers and rail workers in the Netherlands.

[@danielvladu4905]

Apparently police understand your situation better, because when those two officers arrived they treated your situation as an emergency. got out and stopped that lane than and there. they are not messing about. well done

[@philanimahla8094]

My man love i love.what you are doing brother thank you

[@nofatchicks6]

Another example of the Police having to pick up jobs from other agencies who can’t be bothered to carry out their primary functions.

[@andywalters7300]

You did what anyone else would do to make sure you and your customer got home safely. Stay safe greg

[@paul18k]

Great looking FA 160 sir, very clean 🫡

[@diorocks5858]

You make us proud mate well-done, Seasons greetings

[@garethswaffs]

Great video, personally I would send a copy of this video to your local MP, they would have the clout to bring this up in parliament and get the Highways rules changed.

[@telx2010]

You're wasting your time sadly.

[@bernardcromarty485]

So much for 'smart motorways' being safe... this is a disgraceful situation.

[@theblower069]

Well done Highways Not What a joke. Good video. respect.

[@johnaitken5597]

It is a isgrace that your english motorways have done away with the hard shoulder as i worked on recovery up here in scotland and yes you done the right thing contacting the police as these highways vans are neverthere when you need them and when they do apear i think personaly tthe way they light up tbe backend this can cause accidents because of drivers llooking to see what better you are doing better of with the police watching your back they know what they are doing john from scotland keep up your vids

[@imagseer]

They probably imagined it was like a layby on a dual carriageway which sometimes has a strip of grass as well to isolate it from the traffic. These 'smart' motorways are an absolute menace.

[@joshuaf14life]

So they won’t put a lane 1 closure or a speed restriction in for you. But they are more than happy to put a speed restriction for a queue that doesn’t exist. This is why smart motorways are daft.

[@Art-is-craft]

They are daft because they have no hard shoulder. Roads without a hard shoulder are much more dangerous than those with one.

[@MrDbone75]

A very good Sunday evening to you all

[@Georgiee.and.Dan.]

Fantastic brilliant content👍👍👍👍

[@qwertyasdof25]

Moaning about safety while still not wearing the right kit, seems like he likes to blame others and take zero responsibility for his own safety. 4th Emergency Service is the Coast Guard/Lifeboats…

[@keithhall7808]

Drama queen springs too mind 😂

[@qwertyasdof25]

@@keithhall7808 he seems scared of motorways, probaly should stick to tyre fitting 🤣

[@randomchannel5386]

@@qwertyasdof25 He is more than right to be cautious these "Smart" motorways are a deathtrap. There is a reason they have been scrapped and no more will be built.

[@qwertyasdof25]

@@randomchannel5386 i agree smart motorways are dangerous and should be scrapped, but he also needs to take some accountability for his own safety, he hasn’t even got the basics of the correct ppe

[@randomchannel5386]

@@qwertyasdof25 genuinely curious as to what extra PPE he could wear in this situation. Either way it doesn’t excuse the incompetence from highways.

[@eddiewatts7792]

Thread a sling through the wheel tied to a small weight of some type that can drag along. If the bolt sheers the wheel drops dead and doesnt roll.

[@Art-is-craft]

There is no real guarantee due to the fact anything could happen.

[@nonaknight9491]

You did an excellent job. It’s nice to see people doing a good job nowadays. When are Government going to do something about these KILLER lanes ❓

[@richardeggett392]

Got to love these smart motorways real lifesavers.

[@paulcole2575]

Greg great video just a shame highways are a complete was off time can’t be bothered to help out good on you ringing the police to help you. Get a complaint sent in to the highways

[@MrMadmouse101]

Well Done Greg, Smart motorway need a hard shoulder the way they are now is dangerous , Highway Agency are just a joke.

[@3bmotersportsdevelopments358]

That recovery truck sounds ausome ☺️

[@Chilled_Mackers]

Well done to you, the Police call handler and attending officers. I hope the van got a full set of tires (you noted the fronts were not great) and that 9 ugger-duggers on the impact gun were not used when the wheels were refitted. There is a torque spec for a reason.

[@twist_of_the_wrist]

19:50 dvsa casual driving on by.😂

[@philkfoto]

I was always under the impression that using an impact driver on seized wheel bolts would shear the heads off. Much better to use a wrench first to free them.

[@Ju1ian10001]

An impact gun should be able to undo a correctly torqued wheel nut/bolt, indded the tool your vehicle is supllied with is the size and length it is, to tighten the wheel to the correct torque ( unless your vehicle does not have spare from factory, no spare no tools)but yes if the nuts/bolts have become corrode or been in for a long time, use a breaker bar of about 18 inches in length then a impact gun, and never ever use an impact on a locking wheel nut/bolt as the can and do break the key.

[@SloopyJohnG]

This is an eye-opener for the rest of us. I knew that 'smart' motorways were inherently more dangerous, but if their operators are not even prepared to use the meagre safety provisions available, then that's simply not good enough.

[@G7LWT]

Speechless!

[@comradebismarck]

To me, even with 1 bolt, the wheel will not come off! Closing a whole lane for this is just absolutely not necessary!

[@craigholdsworth4631]

Can you be 100% sure tho, and is it worth a risk to all the family's out there for the sake of a little loss of time with a closer or even the warning that there is things happening at side of the road, I've been there done it and seen things go wrong then its too late, just not worth the risk for everyone in my eyes

[@brianhume4743]

Your talking shite 😴

[@beef6182]

All that messing about could have been on and gone in 5mins, less time at the side of the road, less risk.

[@guy4469]

think he hyped it up for the channel this would be done in Europe in 4 minutes .

[@davidbriggs3252]

Just to add, if you ever breakdown on a motorway, don't sit in your vehicle regardless of the weather. Get out and get behind the safety barrier. This guy did a brilliant job.

[@seancoleman8528]

I used to do recovery b4 smart motorways and it was dangerous then respect to you guys

[@steamhammer2k]

I wonder if they were caught out by Left hand threaded bolts, but a lack of tyre maintenance looks like the cause...

[@Ju1ian10001]

Renault master's (even in luton body) are standard thread on all wheels, no left hand thread to worry about, i do tyres on them almost every over week.

[@50mi55ile]

I had a blow out on my truck on the A1north bound warmsworth Doncaster ,I got the truck clear off the motorway onto the highway agency slip road ,highway agency attended and said I was in a dangerous position and reversed me down the slip road onto the A1 hardshoulder ,the tyre fitter refused to change the tyre while the truck was where it was ,so I drove it back up the slip road

[@benjiaj1963]

I had the exact same thing happen with my car at exactly the same spot as you! I drove very slowly all the way up the ramp and pulled off to the side outside their gates/fence (plenty of parking spaces/room) as my recovery would be almost an hour. Numerous Highways staff telling me to drive vehicle back down onto the carriageway and I couldn't even stay on their slip road out of way of traffic. Politely said no as its safe here and they threatened to phone police.

[@nordex1216]

Been in the recovery game a while. Suggest you get a clean more visible high viz and will be more visible zipped up. Pair of high viz trousers and hat helps too. Good content 👍

[@mikeyb784]

defo be putting in a complaint to highways,wheres reverse still gives me a chuckle

[@m1cxf]

I can part understand they possible have a policy to avoid the abuse of the facility. However, surely they can use their cctv and see that you are a genuine recovery outfit and monitor how the job is going and re open the lane when the job is done. The main issue with "smart" motorways is that often the road surface is smarter than the people who write the policies about how they are managed.. Thankfully plod has some common sense and they're not all bad.

[@eddiemeekin9180]

You’re not telling me that I’ve sat in uncountable hours of traffic, for them to build these smart motorways.. and they don’t even want to use them! Shocking

[@ThePopeNuker]

And yet I’ve no doubt you’d be the first to complain about a lane 1 closure being set for something that’s not even in lane 1.

[@eddiemeekin9180]

@@ThePopeNuker I’ve seen it be shut for a lot less so why not? Clearly the job had a chance of danger for lane one. On one of his other videos. They shut lane 2 just to move a car 😂 show me the consistency

[@Art-is-craft]

⁠@@ThePopeNuker There is a very high risk that the wheel could come off or that the lorry could canter into the flow path of the traffic. All it takes is one small incident and the whole motor way could end up in a pile up. And guess what there would be no hard shoulder to allow drivers to perform an emergency avoidance. I do not think people understand how dangerous that situation was. He took a massive gamble loading that rescue.

[@jamieterry6326]

Quick question brother where do you get the uniform from the hi Vis gear I mean the jacket and trousers great combo and real good videos keep up the good work and stay safe as always we all need to do save us all once or a dozen times the videos are epic and love what you do happy new year and have a awesome 2024 🤙🏻🤙🏻

[@user-xc8es5hj4u]

Well done fella on the rescue. Reverse on a daf, yeah I constantly have to sort that, it's basically two nuts, one actually that works it's way loose wit vibration, great when you realise, but tightening and tweaking that cud take a half dozen cab tilts to sort for full gear change, seriously, great motor, but some sorta locknut wud help. Lol. Good luck for the future, happy trails. X

[@christopherhand1092]

Actually can’t believe that highways said you was in safe place and wouldn’t add a closure, only took one person on phone or not concentrating and you could be gone, it’s the last place anyone wants to be sat!!

[@Vids158]

19:51 highways agency’s drives past waving 😂😂😂

[@richardlaw5737]

I attended a breakdown on a busy 4 lane a road with a hard shoulder recently. Vehicle was a coach with 40 passengers that were being transferred to other vehicles whilst I tried to fix it. Best highways could do was some speed limit signs but I’m not even sure they were for me. I was laying on the floor of the coach looking out the back with one eye and the other looking at the water hose I was trying to fix!!

[@justmeEnglandUK]

Should close 1 to allow you to pull out after loading safely as not enough lay-by to build up speed

[@lawrencemartin1113]

Shocking. A couple of years ago, in convoy with one of the mini busses from the school I worked at, the bus broke down on the M25, close to the feed on junction from the M23. It was stuck in lane 1 with traffic pouring down either side of it. The pupils were unable to get off and get safely away from the vehicle. Recovery vehicles were called but despite being the contracted recovery firm, the first company refused to attend!! The second company we then called, went to entirely the wrong location, somewhere on the M23....TWICE! Highways and police were in the loop, but the Highways operative who first attended was terrible and incredibly rude! We were on route to a national shooting competition and carrying firearms and school pupils. We needed to get out of that situation, urgently with lane closures for the feed on to our left as well as a lane 1 closure on the M25. The lady highways operative told me she "wanted our pupils to get out and push the bus onto the hard shoulder", ahead of the left side feed on, while traffic was flowing!!! I politely 'explained' that I had responsibility for their lives and that would not happen. It was an interesting conversation, with a very stroppy lady who eventually saw my pov! After another forty minutes, we managed to get another two highways cars to close the M23 feed on, while the lane behind us was also closed and with help from the three staff, and the highways guys, we were able to manually push the bus onto the hard shoulder away from the feed on and safer location. The rest of the saga is a long and tedious story of taxi companies sending drivers completely the wrong way (Gatwick airport....TWICE!!) and then rocking up with the smallest vehicle possible to evacuate the six pupils, leaving them to travel with out a staff member!.....just insane. Followed by several more hours stuck on the hard shoulder with two vehicles and a load of firearms and a recovery firm who initially were going to dump us at the next junction! Again, I was able to explain to the driver, that was not going to happen and that we were to be recovered directly back to our school, not very far away. The drama started at approx. 09:00 and we arrived back on campus, only a short drive from the motorways at 18:30! The whole day had been a total fiasco, with the potential to become a tragedy on multiple occassions and despite the recovery agent, being a decent guy, who did the right thing, the lady highways officer who first attended was not helpful. The police never attended, but really should have as it was an extremely dangerous situation where they should have overseen the entire rescue. We all learned a lot that day!!

[@telx2010]

A good lesson, never trust the police.

[@ReclaimOurFreedom]

Did you call 999 or national highways?

[@lawrencemartin1113]

Both. Police failed to show at all and to start with, Highways were dreadful. A very stroppy and aggressive lady who clearly wanted to treat us as idiots.​@@ReclaimOurFreedom

[@somerandomalbinodude]

sounds like the highways agency people were about as useful as a 1 legged man in an arse kicking contest in this situation

[@bungle6668]

Cummins engine in that little DAF sounds the mutts nuts!! a proper hummin' cummins!

[@tonyford7987]

I’ve passed a “caution queue 40” for three weeks on the trot just after 14 southbound, got sick of ringing them every night to tell them to no avail!

[@richarddinning6901]

I'm thinking all motorways should have a hard shoulder from start to finish Greg

[@JustAlanJohn]

This is what happens when the contracts are handed out to private companies shocking phone ringing out.

[@supareelsmusic9415]

Been watching a lot of vids on police problems they have to deal with on the motorways ... all I can say is well done!!! As always they are a precious lot ... that highways lady should be educated as to what an emergency, or 'could be ' given her responsibility ..... ??

[@fergalcollins1144]

Someone's taking the p!ss there, mate. Well handled. Great turning circle in those Dafs.

[@richardgiles2484]

I would have said your biggest risk was rejoining Lane one from a standing start 😂

[@m1pete]

Is that a regulation HiVis Greg? LOL.

[@Bullwinkle39]

Another danger with those tiny refuge areas is not always having enough space to accelerate enough to safely rejoin the live lanes

[@deedoor30]

I do believe we should also have a move over law, for anyone working or stuck at the side of the motorway smart or not.

[@deltasi7270]

Funny how HWE phoned not 5 minutes after you ringing the Police. You did the right thing mate . You’d have been hung if the wheel crossed in to the motorway. HWE would have been the first to prosecute you. . The system works only if the managers are well trained . and know the job. Only close a lane for a minute. Never heard such crap. I reckon someone is in for a bollocking Monday morning . Glad your safe . Pat on the back to the police. Darren🇬🇧🇺🇦

[@user-lv7te3ll2n]

I had my fingers crossed as you pulled that ship on to your ramp, Had the gerbils turned the bolt heads the wrong way, too many people don't know that the bolts may be reversed on one side .

[@user-pe8ce7kg5n]

Maybe it was tyre fitters first day on the job not knowing Van's and larger trucks have left hand threads on one side and right on the other!!!

[@cuddlybear_uk]

It’s always been the same, had to deal with patients that fell ill whilst driving on a smart motorway and they wouldn’t put a lane closure or speed restriction on without one of their units could get there. Once we left then the vehicle had to be recovered from the ERA. All I can say it thank goodness CMPG were willing and able to send units to assist. All the HA seem to care about is keeping the cars moving and will only take action when it’s their staff at risk. Like you say it’s easy enough for the person on the phone to get authorisation for a temporary speed restriction or lane 1 closure for those few minutes. Maybe they can’t be bothered to dial through or walk over to speed to whoever can authorise the change.

[@KaneGreen-pu4gd]

I respect the risk you take and other drivers take and the drastic measures you take to protect yourself and others and your costumers if only highways lady dealt with it professionally instead of being a KARAN she’s not the one putting herself in harm’s way so much responsibility you have you did a great job please keep yourself safe and to other drivers keep safe and when safe to do so move out the lane that is occupied to keep are recovery drivers safe aswell as the drivers that break down help keep each other safe we all have a family to go home too ❤