M4 toll queues

mickdw

Does anyone know if the queues at this toll are supposed to be limited to 6 cars? I heard when the road was first opened that this was one of the conditions of the contract to operate the road.

I went through there on sunday morning and there were 20+ car queues to the one manned booth and also similar queues to the coin baskets.

Did I hear right or wrong about the contract?

Berty

LOL Yeah there was a rule on the M50 about the trucks with a "no more than 6 trucks" or something.

The trucks used to pile up before the Plaza and head towards it and they would sit there because they were refused passage without paying.

Long queue means a few things.

Too little staff
Too little lanes open
Not reading Express Tags
People who cannot understand the concept of having to pay for something
People who cannot understand the concept of figuring out if you have money before you enter a Tolled road

Happens every so often as I use most of the Tolls around the country on a regular basis.

opinion guy

Cues were bad on there today around 12:30 or so

Sunnyisland

And yesterday there was at 11 cars in front of me,I said it to the lady and she said she was the only one on that hour ??? it was ridiculous.

mickdw

Beer Baron wrote: »

LOL Yeah there was a rule on the M50 about the trucks with a "no more than 6 trucks" or something.

The trucks used to pile up before the Plaza and head towards it and they would sit there because they were refused passage without paying.

Long queue means a few things.

Too little staff
Too little lanes open
Not reading Express Tags
People who cannot understand the concept of having to pay for something
People who cannot understand the concept of figuring out if you have money before you enter a Tolled road

Happens every so often as I use most of the Tolls around the country on a regular basis.

Not talking about the M50. We all know how the M50 was but I think this was specifically included in the contract for the M4 having learned from the mistakes of the M50 and others.

Anyone know if its actually in contract or was it all bluff at the time.

Damien360

It would be near impossible to police this if such a contract was in place. The vast majority of time there are very few cars in lanes but I have seen one incident where loads of cars built up quickly due to 2 idiots. Each in the quick pay lane. One old guy stopped his car, got out, checked he locked it and then calmly walked across the lanes to pay at a booth over on the far side. The lane right beside him had someone who appeared not to understand the concept of "toll". They sat at the barrier unmoved and as I looked in my mirror, speeding away they were still there. Just like the clowns who approach a till in tesco after getting everything checked through and then decide it would be good to open the bag and look for money. Apparently unaware that payment is due for the goods.

My point being, if you judged the toll section on that one incident you would say it does not work, but any other time there are very few cues as long as everyone understands getting money ready long before they see the toll booths.

mickdw

In this case it was down to sustained heavier than usual traffic for a sunday morning due to both Mayo and roscommon people heading to croke park. You wouldnt need to be a rocket scientist to figure out that this demand would be there. There were no silly delays that I saw although understandably few were using tags etc.
I just want to find out if its in the contract or not as its a bit irish for them to just leave one lady manning the whole thing and the queues building up.
Id say at best, the contract would say that there would have to be an average of more than 6 cars across all lanes. This was the case here for sure too.

Damien360

mickdw wrote: »

Id say at best, the contract would say that there would have to be an average of more than 6 cars across all lanes. This was the case here for sure too.

But they would argue that on average that scenario does not happen. If such a contract existed a reasonable clause would state that on average at peak times there would be no more than 6 cars in each lane. A match, even if planned, would be outside the norm and therefore would be considered a freak event and discounted. It would not be an average day.

Shane732

Ahhh you have to love the express lane!

Berty

Shane732 wrote: »

Ahhh you have to love the express lane!

Yep no peasants of any kind.