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It is summer and the long grass is obscuring sight lines on the Highways. I believe this is very dangerous to vehicles and pedestrians; should the HSE fine Councils for not dealing with these unsafe practices ?
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...and while they are it admonish the tooth fairy for failing to remove toddlers teeth before they hurt and Santa if he is slow delivering presents. :)
On a more serious note - HSE doesn't fine councils, S3 doesn't extend that far and drivers should drive safely within the conditions. Perhaps simply getting in touch with the relevant councils would be a simpler option than invoking the HSE at every turn?
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Shineon55 wrote:...and while they are it admonish the tooth fairy for failing to remove toddlers teeth before they hurt and Santa if he is slow delivering presents. :)
On a more serious note - HSE doesn't fine councils, S3 doesn't extend that far and drivers should drive safely within the conditions. Perhaps simply getting in touch with the relevant councils would be a simpler option than invoking the HSE at every turn?
Actually the HSE regularly fine councils. However what has Santa Claus got to do with Councils causing accidents by allowing their verges to obstruct sight lines on Highways ?
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Actually, no they don't. The courts hand out any fines to councils prosecuted by the HSE. And..FFI isn't a fine, just in case it rears it's little head again.
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Rank: Super forum user
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BJC you make an interesting point but it is unlikely that anyone will raise a prosecution for anyone not cutting the grass, it is not just the sight lines but when the grass dries out there wil be many grass fires that are more hazardous to drivers on motorways and other roads where traffic is very fast.
However could you maybe make a citizen's arrest and start the ball rolling yourself?
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Its not just the verges they are not ensuring trees are cut back forcing high vehicles into the oncoming traffic.
I would love to arrest a member of Parliament however under new legislation they can take me in the middle of the night rescind my UK citizenship and either hold me indefinitely in an internment camp or deport me to another unregulated destination without even a trial.
Thats better than even FFI.
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Ah, council cut backs I presume.
If you are concerned just let the council know, or the land owner.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Grass verges aren't a workplace so as Shineon says HASAWA doesn't apply. While we're at it can't we knowck down all those dreadful dry stone walls in Yorkshire Dales? I was quite unable to drive at the posted speed limit yesterday,
John
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Wonder how many of you work in Local Government?
Highways Depts know what they are doing and often have to juggle Local Environmental Policies (wildlife etc) against the practicalities of cutting 100's of miles of 'garden'. That is if it' their job to do so - some highway goes hedge to hedge but not all;some is the responsibilitity of the landowner; and much of it Highway Agency - a Government controlled body so would the HSE want to get involved as the Government doesn't regulate itself.
Finally the rules of the road say "drive to the prevailing conditions" not the speed limit - unless of course you went to the Jeremy Clarkson school of safety.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Rank: Guest
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Isnt it interesting that although it is LAs responsibility to ensure all Highways are kept clear of foliage whether they own same or otherwise some people cannot see the hypocrisy of non enforcement.
Everyday pulling out of junctions and moving over to the kerb to allow high vehicles to enter my carriageway causes a significant RISK but thats alright yet I hear people here screaming about banning electronic cigarettes in the workplace.
Just maybe the Daily Mail does paint a picture that touches a nerve ?
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Rank: Super forum user
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O dear - I think the higways departments should rush out and close all these dangerouse roads until the grass has been cut!
Be careful what you ask for their is more than one way to skin a cat as they say!
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Sometimes the grass is puposefully left long to restrict eyelines at junctions ensuring drivers do slow down, this can be seen at Junction 22 M1, bamboo has been planted to obsruct the veiw of oncoming traffic as a calming measure.
Another reason is policy as in Devon "A la Countryfile" verges are there to attract wildlife and are only cut to within 1metre of the kerb.
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Rank: Super forum user
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History of posting spoof subjects. Ignore such posts from OP.
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JJ Prendergast wrote:History of posting spoof subjects. Ignore such posts from OP.
From your birds eye view at the back of the bus you probably havent noticed these issues.
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Rank: Super forum user
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In mya region, it is only verges that are maintained to one metre from the edge except where sight lines need to be maintained. (junctions etc). Only TWO cuts per year usually.
Following quote from my local County Highways Unit about roads where there is no verge. (and there are plenty of those where I drive regularly.)
"Hedges and banks"
Where there are no verges and the roads are immediately bordered by a bank or hedge, we carry out a single swathe vertical cut of seasonal growth. However, the majority of hedges bordering the highway are privately owned. Landowners and occupiers have to maintain their boundary, except between 1 March and 31 July (bird nesting season) to make sure their hedge, tree or shrub does not obstruct highway users or lines of sight at junctions. Landowners must also remove any debris from the road surface to prevent nuisance and to stop it blocking surface water drainage systems."
So maybe if you are looking for someone to prosecute, and I definitely wouldn't be, then perhaps you need to extend your brief somewhat!
If there is a clear and obvious obstruction on the highway, or sight lines at junctions are obscured due to quick growth, then report by all means. Understanding just how prosecution of anyone would improve the current difficult situation is a difficult logic to follow.
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Rank: Forum user
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jwk wrote:Grass verges aren't a workplace so as Shineon says HASAWA doesn't apply. While we're at it can't we knowck down all those dreadful dry stone walls in Yorkshire Dales? I was quite unable to drive at the posted speed limit yesterday,
John
I agree. I think you will find that this falls under any one of the road traffic acts or the highways act.
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Is this a serious topic? Is the OP having a joke?
Lots of reasons for not cutting the grass.
There must be lots other safety issues that need sorting out in the UK, before this.
Its not practical.
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Rank: Super forum user
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the OP is regarded by some of us as border line troll
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Maybe the Moderators should take action.
JJP
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Rank: Super forum user
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Where I live (in the countryside) there are many junctions that have very long grasses on the verges. The local council trims them back every now and then and it does make getting out into the road a lot safer. However, it is possible to edge out slowly, whilst not causing an accident, if you are very careful.
Pete
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So don't the Moderators take action against Troll posters? Seems pretty obvious to me.
JJP
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