Inner Ring Road

Unfortunately it too often comes down to relying on people to behave sensibly and not do stupid things. Of course there are measures you can put in place for damage limitation, but ultimately you just have to let people get on with it. I tend to agree with AD - whatever you do there will be dangers.

So what do we all think to the Ring Road racing then?! I love racing/F1 etc. I used to go to the Birmingham Superprix and welcome the publicity but I really cannot see how this can work? They are going to have to build some huge elevated stands and some massively high catch fencing with the road being so high in any case? Also there's several areas where the road splits each side meaning effectively only two lanes for the track - Surely no where near wide enough for F3 racing? I saw some massive impacts in Brum and this could be darn dangerous.

The most accident prone, most dangerous island in Coventry, is where the Navigation public house was, Gallagher retail park, according to the insurance companies, they stop for the pedestrian crossings there, so far

Morgana. That is a dangerous island just because some motorists have no idea about lane discipline. If you wish to continue straight on, use outside lane. If you want to turn left use inside, simple. After saying that I would agree that there should be better lane marking. Norman.

Yes I agree better markings which at present are not clear, but the insurance companies have this as a hot spot.

It's far from the only one. Apart from the obvious Tollbar I find the Sky Blue Way roundabout has terrible lane discipline from those coming off the ring road - just cutting across lanes so they don't have to slow down an extra 5mph or so. I know it causes crashes, already seen three damaged cars at the side of the road and I assume there must be more as it's not like I'm at the roundabout for that long a time. There also appears to be one lane which doesn't lead anywhere - it just goes round and round and round. Mentioned it to the council numerous times, get told its being sorted, nothing gets done. Maybe once they've done the FGS exit? I've suggested different colours for each lane, like cats eyes, or even colour every flaming lane completely - 'the Rainbow Roundabout'

AD, maybe that lane that seems to go nowhere, it just goes round and round and round, the bloke who designed it might have watched too much of the Magic Roundabout ?

Coventry's roads are notoriously badly marked. In many places they are so neglected that the markings have disappeared. Some years ago I was driving round the ring road roundabout near the Swanswell and another driver drove straight onto the roundabout from where the Coventry Thaetre used to be and into the side of my car. His excuse was that there were no road markings, and they were virtually gone. It needed me to photograph the whole junction, including 'Give Way' signs before his insurance company gave in and admitted his liability. The council remarked the road within a couple of weeks as a result of the collision. But there are still many junctions where the lines are so worn as to be useless. Is there a shortage of white paint?

Probably the same as here, Mr.D-Di. There is a right way, a wrong way and an Aussie way of doing things here, take your pick!!!!! The only shortage is common sense with regard to drivers' safety.

Perhaps the white paint is missing, to get us in practice for this

No. There is a shortage of people willing enough to report bad or non-existent lines to those who could do something about it on the basis that the line painters wouldn't care anyway..

Pix, you have hit on a great plan. If all road signs were in Latin, we could all claim ignorance..

More nonsense, I'm afraid. Many years ago I worked for Coventry City Engineers in the Highways Department. There were a number of Highways Inspectors whose job was to identify problems such as potholes or problems with road markings. They were prioritised and dealt with, and as a result Coventry had some of the best quality roads in the UK. The city took a pride in its roads and pavements. Those days are long gone. Ring now and they will plead poverty and say they will 'look into it'. The road I referred to was re-marked because it was the subject of litigation and insurance claims. I did report other examples in the following couple of years and nothing was ever done. The public are largely ignored on such matters, the shared space junctions being a prime example even up to the inevitable fatality. Routine inspections would identify and prioritise sites where work needs to be done, but the funds need to be there. Presumably the money has been wasted elsewhere, painting white lines outside presidential palaces in banana republics. I am intrigued to know how you feel so acquainted with the internal workings of our local authorities when living in the colonies.