In Depth

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In Depth is the section that explores various aspects of the road network in serious detail, investigating how things work and why they work that way. Turn to this section of CBRD for detailed information on specific subjects.

This articles below are split into three categories: Roads, for articles that refer to a specific road; Road Features, for either a specific part of a road or a generic feature; and Miscellaneous, for everything else. Click the name of a section to see more.

Roads

ImageCroydon Ring Road

Common sense suggests that you shouldn't be able to spend so much money on heavy engineering and end up with such a terrible road system.

ImageQueensway Tunnel

The engineering marvel of its day, much altered and maligned ever since. The original Mersey Tunnel in all its glory.

ImageCoventry Ring Road

The best ring road in the world? Possibly. The most frightening? Yes.

ImageCity Centre Loop

Learn by example how a one-way ring road can be cobbled together from existing streets.

Road Features

ImageThe Magic Roundabout

Officially the seventh most frightening thing on the road network - but actually it might just be the most efficient junction ever designed.

ImageLow Emission Zone

A first step towards emissions-based road pricing, a pointless measure to enforce something that's happening anyway, or another leap forward in traffic planning from the people who created the Congestion Charge? It's hard to say.

ImageRoad Numbers

We'd be lost without them. Find your way around road numbering - how it works, how it was done and how it doesn't always work all that well.

ImageUrban Motorway Signs

Motorway signs are great: they're big and easy to read, and they are always a cheery blue colour. Why is that not always true for urban motorways?

ImageMileage Signs

Drivers on parts of the M25, M42 and M6 might have noticed some funny blue signs down the side of the road. What are they for? Find out here.

ImageActive Traffic Management

A recent CBRD Poll found that, even on a roads-based website, 35% of visitors hadn't heard of ATM. This section contains all you need to know.

ImageCongestion Charging

London Mayor Ken Livingstone has balanced his political career on the success of a radical scheme to cut London's traffic congestion. As cities around the world watch and wait for results, Londoners pay up.

ImageM4 Bus Lane

Terry Wogan and Jeremy Clarkson lead a horde of angry motorists in shaking their fists at the red-painted lane on the M4 around Heston. Is it really so bad?

Miscellaneous

ImageMoto Services

No, I'm not going to discuss the relative merits of various service areas. Instead, let me introduce you to the painful world of traffic signs, Moto style.

ImageMajor Incidents

What happens when there's a big accident on a trunk route? Who picks up the pieces, and why does it take so long?