RTE Road Safety: How can they get away with this?

bryanw

Ok, I'm getting very frustrated about RTE's road safety reports because they blatantly break the rules of the road while doing it. They have done the exact same thing twice and I wouldn't be surprised if they had done it more times.

Basically what they are doing is totally against the rules of the road. Their correspondents are filmed from the M11 bridge on the M11/M50 junction and they dare to give out and be smug to viewers on the issue road safety. How can they get away with this?

The bridge they stand on has a narrow pavement and is on the M11 and is still under full motorway restrictions. The speed limit is 80km/h but that's only because of the sharp bends. The motorway doesn't end until the roundabout at Loughlinstown hospital, which is probably where one of RTE's reporters will end up if they keep doing this. Oh well... at least its convenient for them!

I was absolutely outraged last night to see this for the second time. And even more so in the manner it was done. Firstly they try to cover up the fact that they are on a motorway by calling it the "N11" which it is NOT. Blue signs can be clearly seen behind them. And last night the correspondent, at the end of the report, made a point about pedestrians wearing high-visibility jackets, while herself wearing a long, black coat while being a pedestrian on the motorway, in the dark! OMFG! Of course the point has to be raised about where she and her crew parked their van. They would have had to park somewhere down off the bridge in the hard shoulder and WALK up to the bridge.

How dare they come on the air and do this and dictate to people how to behave on the roads just so they can get a good looking camera shot.

Is there any way that someone can be punished over this...? well what I would rather is that they be embarrassed.

If I ever saw them while driving along there.... I'd... :mad:

LINKS:
Charlie Bird's N11 commute (See videos at end of story)
Releated Boards Topic
Last Night... they're at it again! (See video at end)

Victor

Is it possible they did this under Garda escort?

murphaph

Victor wrote:

Is it possible they did this under Garda escort?

It would still be illegal IIRC. The only pedestrians allowed on the motorway (apart from gardai/emergency services and members of the public in an emergency like a breakdown/collision etc.) are road maintenance crews. This is all laid down in legislation I remember reading. I too saw the M11 'report' and said exactly the same as the OP-lazy RTE just trot down from Montrose and want a good shot, so llegaly enter the motorway as pedestrians. Anyway, the Gardai had better not be escortng them when there's plenty of other things for them to be doing in this city! :rolleyes:

Report watchable here : http://www.rte.ie/news/2007/0405/safety.html

Zoney

This sounds absurd, possibly more so if they had a Garda escort...

It's not like there's any tolerance for any traffic disruption whatsoever on the likes of the M11.

dodgyme

class OP I watched the video and see what you mean. Cant help but laugh, even though I know I shouldnt.

Alun

I remember that from the original Charlie Bird "morning commute on the N11" report from last year, and commented on it here. What I'd like to know is where the hell the camera crew's car/van was parked !!!???

P.S. Just watched the above video, and it's being filmed at night as well!! Are they completely and utterly mad?

murphaph

Sent a complaint to RTE's complaints dept...

Dea Sir/Madam,
I wish to complain about the nature of one of RTE's recent reports on road safety, aired on the 9 news on the 5th of April, 2007. The report may be viewed here: http://www.rte.ie/news/2007/0405/safety.html and is disturbing. The reporter can clearly be seen standing on the M11 flyover at it's junction with the M50. The reporter is standing on a section of road under MOTORWAY restrictions, despite the 'N11' displayed on screen. Pedestrians are expressly prohibited by law from entering a motorway except in an emergency. Motorists do not expect to see pedestrians on the motorway, least not on a blind bridge in the middle of the night with a camera crew and associated bright lighting! RTE can consider themselves lucky a motorist on that section of the M11 didn't get distracted enough to crash. Also interesting that the reporter talks of 'High visibility' clothing yet sports a black coat. This is completely unprofessional behaviour by RTE and is unnacceptabel from the national broadcaster.

I'd suggest anyone else do the same.

killbillvol2

Excuse my ignorance here, but why is there a footpath on that stretch of road?

Alun

killbillvol2 wrote:

Excuse my ignorance here, but why is there a footpath on that stretch of road?

Its not really a footpath as such, just a narrow piece of concrete between the edge of the carriageway and the fence.

BrianD

All bridges even m-way ones have foot paths. A bridge is a restriction and it allows pedestrians who are there for what ever reason legally or illegally to pass safely.

bryanw

I complained too... If it was the case that they could have had an escort - I would be even more angry!

Traffic

TV3 have in the past done their road safety reports on the hardshoulder of m50 mainline, complete madness.
Let us know what RTE say in their reply

parsi

In the Eddie Hobss programme dealing with the bakery he spent a considerable period on the handfree in his car. That wasn't too bad except he initiated the call whilst travelling and then regularly turned round to the camera for his "oh my God" pieces...

It may not be technically wrong but it does show a blase/ attitude.

murphaph

Here's the response to my complaint. Thoughts?

Dear Mr. Murphy





Thank you for your email in connection with a Road Safety report broadcast on the 9 o’clock News of Thursday, 5th April.



RTÉ News is strongly committed to the issue of Road Safety, was concerned about the matters you raised and has investigated the matter thoroughly.

In your email you suggested that our reporter was operating illegally by broadcasting from a part of the M50 motorway. This is not the case.

Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council tells us that the flyover from which we broadcast is on the N11 and not the motorway. Both the vehicle and reporter were on the footpath of the flyover.

The piece was shot in this location after seeking and obtaining permission from the Gardai at Shankill station. We had parked our satellite vehicle and broadcast from there only after this consultation. Also, a cone was placed on the footpath to highlight our presence.

As to the issue of our reporter not wearing high-visibility clothing, you are quite correct. She should have been wearing it and will do so in future.

We appreciate your taking the time and trouble to contact us with your concerns.

Yours sincerely,

Carolyn Fisher

Alun

I'm gobsmacked. That part of the road, according to the signage, is very definitely still under Motorway regulations, despite the 80km/h limit. The "end of motorway" doesn't appear until just before the Loughlinstown roundabout. Anybody can see that for themselves.

Maybe an email to someone in DLR county council is in order? And as for Shankill Gardai giving permission for this .. what were they thinking?

Zoney

Technically speaking, the M11 *is* part of the N11, just as the M50 is legislated for as the N50.

Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council should however have said in response that it was the M11 if it was a section under motorway restrictions (as a reply with saying it's the N11 is misleading even if technically correct).

jd

murphaph wrote:

Here's the response to my complaint. Thoughts?

Reply saying that it is the M11 and still under motorway restrictions
jd

bullrunner

You should also send a letter of complaint to the Gardai at Shankill and your local politicians. Show your politician the response you got from RTE!

Imposter

Is parking on the footpath not illegal as well?

bryanw

murphaph wrote:

Here's the response to my complaint. Thoughts?

I got the exact same reply... word for word!

I never heard of that section being anything other than motorway. It's news to me! I'm not happy with that response. The end of motorway signs are just before the roundabout. No other traffic other than on the mway can access that bridge.

Its quite hypocritical of them. Obviously public bodies aren't concerned with promoting a good message... (incl. the Gardaí) but of course some people are above the law!

murphaph

I won't be leaving it here Bryan. Next step, ask RTE for their contact in DLRCC and simultaneously make independent enquiries with DLRCC. I queried FCC over the 'M32' to find out if it was under motorway regs so ths should be similar. I'm certain it is and if I find out it is I will complain to the Ombudsman about this. It's this lax attitude that pervades public services in Ireland that has us with sh!tty road markings, sh!tty signage and a generally sh!tty attitude to the whole thing. It's no wonder at all that we have so many people being killed on our roads. I think the RSA will also be written to on this.

afatbollix

Imposter wrote:

Is parking on the footpath not illegal as well?

not for class one brodcasting units. they can ark where they like its not against the law....

Mushy

They put a cone out on the road? They put one single cone out on the road to warn motorists of a big broadcasting truck, and lighting equipment there. Fair play tot hem:rolleyes:

murphaph

Just to help those unfamiliar with the location. RTE were filming on the path with lights facing oncoming traffic. I'd be highly surprised if the northern carriageway isn't M11 given the southern one must be as it leads inescapibly to the M11. The original M11 order would have covered all the road from the roundabout south. This may have been altered when the order for the M50 SE motorway was signed. I still doubt they changed it to cover just one carriageway and thus open the other one up to potential planning apps. The signs indicating end of m-way regs also support this as they are at the roundabout, not before the bridge.

http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/1475/m11m50qn6.jpg

bryanw

They also put up new end of m-way signs approaching the roundabout when they finished to M50. And of course the "Motorway Ahead" sign is still there for southbound traffic. Would it not be a bit strange for just one carriageway to be m-way? I wouldn't be surprised if RTE made up the excuse about contacting DLRCC.

Victor

bryanw wrote:

Would it not be a bit strange for just one carriageway to be m-way?

Strange, but not impossible.

murphaph, your image is huge!