I always try to be sympathetic when I’m stuck on the M5 motorway, and just recently that’s happened three times, writes Clinton Rogers.
I always think to myself: "This may be inconvenient to me, but some poor person up ahead may have been seriously hurt in a crash."
Yet my magnanimous nature took a bit of a hit a few weeks ago on a journey back from Bristol.
My wife and I were feeling very cheery, having watched our eldest daughter perform beautifully in a choral performance which could have lifted even the darkest mood.
Then, as we approached the Bridgwater exit, gridlock.
My standard "It’s going to be worse for someone else" mental attitude was put to the test for about four hours.
Not easy on the bladder – especially if you have a prostate condition!
Then, as we approached the scene of what I assumed would be a serious crash, no wreckage.
No sign of a crash.
No emergency vehicles.
It was only the next day I discovered the motorway had been closed in both directions because a man had parked his car in the middle of the carriageway and started to climb on the bonnet and roofs of other vehicles.
He was eventually arrested, and the motorway reopened.
Read more
Clinton Rogers column: Somerset can no longer take water for granted
Clinton Rogers: My World Cup exit came long before England's
Clinton Rogers column: Overzealous hedge-cutting rules and common sense
Now, I’m still trying to take a sympathetic approach.
After all, this man doubtless has mental health issues.
But the next day I read the motorway had been closed again, because a man was walking on the same stretch of the motorway approaching other cars.
And I was left thinking: Same man?
Did the police release him, just for him to return to the same spot the following day?
It was no surprise to me when a couple of weeks later a report emerged saying that National Highways had apologised for the number of M5 closures in Somerset in the last year.
The statistics say it all really.
Somerset has 12.9 per cent of the South West’s motorway network and yet nearly a third of incidents involving 'people in crisis' happen on this stretch of the motorway.
That includes people either jumping or threatening to jump from bridges.
It’s desperately sad, and I guess no one can explain why such a high number in Somerset.
I had to take issue with a friend recently when they said to me: "People should think about the disruption they are causing to others when they do these things."
I had to point out that someone threatening to jump from a bridge probably isn’t at that moment capable of rational thought.
I’m not sure what the answer is.
Put barriers along each bridge?
They did that at the Clifton Suspension Bridge.
But then there are an awful lot of bridges along the M5.
And to avoid traffic chaos, maybe let the train take the strain.
I tried that a few weeks ago – and they cancelled my train!
Share