1st Class Rider Training-Cardiff learnt today that the threatened withdrawal of Police Motorway patrols throughout the South Wales area on the M4 Motorway came into force today.
From today the Chief Constable of South Wales Police has disbanded her dedicated ‘Motorway Section’ of the South Wales Police Traffic Department due to budget constraints.
This means that the M4 in the Cardiff and South Wales area will no longer be Policed as a matter of course.
Police patrols may still use the motorway for their own travel purposes but the previously highly trained expert motorway patrol Traffic Officers will be given duties elsewhere.
The Chief Constable has determined that the Highways Agency will be responsible for ensuring the safe running of traffic on the M4 and dealing with routine breakdowns and minor calls.
One problem is that the Highways Agency do not have sufficient staff to take over the role at this time and have staff members in training anticipated to first be used (as rookies) in January.
What does this mean to members of the public, in particular motorcyclists using the M4 throughout Cardiff and Southy Wales?
Well speed enforcement will no longer be carried out by patrolling Traffic Cops and the Highways Agency staff have no enforcement powers for this. Now this might sound like fun at first but when you consider the consequences of breaking down on the M4 on your bike.
It can be daunting enough to be sat on the hard shoulder as traffic roars past at 70mph but now you could be stood there, waiting for assistance with traffic speeding by at any speed.
With the onset now of Autumn and Winter with the darker evenings, you could find yourself on an unlit section with no protection, and little assistance to come.
If you find yourself in this position then get away from the bike. Motorways are deemed to be the safest roads in the UK, but the Hard Shoulder is the most dangerous part of that road.
Don’t lean against the back of your bike as you wait for a breakdown service to arrive as this will obscure your lights and other reflective parts of your bike to the approaching traffic, rendering you ‘invisible’.
Move ‘down stream’ away from your bike and if possible over the non-traffic side of the nearside barrier or up the embankment.
The Road side emergency telephones will still connect you to the control room for assistance but it may not result in a Police Patrol attending to assist. It is better, where safety allows, for you to use the roadside telephones rather than your mobile phone to seek help as the roadside phones are a direct link to the Police Control room, where your mobile phone signal may be picked up by the strongest available signal.
So in an emergency you might find yourself speaking with an operator in the West Country rather than Bridgend. (Try Spelling Capel Llanilltern when you are in a panic)!!
Remember don’t put yourself at any risk and protect youself as you may be on your own for some time……aren’t the nights drawing in??
(Please note that 1st Class Rider Training-Cardiff does not condone exceeding the Speed Limits).