Part of my ride home is on a VERY busy dual-carriageway (it probably takes a third of the eastbound traffic out of London). And this time of year it is getting dark on there.
So when I exited an underpass, I wasn't too happy to find a portable road-sign, face down (fortunately between the two lanes). Which meant all the supporting metalwork behind it was sticking up in the air. And was painted... BLACK.
It is a no-stopping road, so I rode home as fast as possible, got out the mapbook and rang the emergency services to report the location and the problem. I thought that was the last I'd hear of it (at least I was praying it would be the last I heard of it - I didn't want to find an accident report in the news tomorrow).
So I was quite surprised when the police rang me back a few minutes later. They asked for the location again... then said it had been cleared up... by a very brave member of the public who had stopped, put on the emergency lights, moved it out of the way and then called the police!
That guy has some real guts - I'd not want to try to stop on that bit of road, it is constantly full of traffic which is moving at no less than 40mph at any time - and as you're exiting an underpass, you're just starting to go back uphill so visibility is a bit compromised.
Well done to the guy for showing real guts - and thanks for the callback by the emergency services. Its good to know that calling through does get through to the right place and quickly and results happen.
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