Orange Cones

Whoever invented the orange cones are probably by now millionaires.  In fact I might just google 'orange cones' and see if I can find out exactly who is responsible for the millions of orange cones that are lining the M5 today?!!


What is it about British road workers that make them want to cover a 20 mile stretch of motorway in orange cones, disappear, not do any work on the road for ages, and cause congestion for everyone???!!!


OK, I guess we can't actually blame the 'road workers'.  The people who put the orange cones in place, the people who actually dig up the roads, the people who probably get all the abuse - they are not the ones to blame.  They are good honest people who are just doing a days work.


So who should we blame for miles and miles of orange cones on the M5?


Today I travelled from Cornwall to Derbyshire.  A journey that should take 5 hours.  Today it took 5 and a half hours. 


OK what's half an hour in a long journey??  Half an hour, that's what! 


If there'd been an accident or a hold up for any other genuine reason that would have been fine.  Travelling 300 miles one expects to have hold ups. 


However, to be held up by miles & miles & miles of orange cones, sectioning off lanes on a motorway, when no-one was working there............................  that to my mind is not a genuine reason.


When I lived in America 20 years ago - any work that had to be done on the motorways (can't remember what they're called in America - oh yes I can - highways I think?!) was done through the night.  The road was closed between midnight & 6am and a team of people just came in and did the repairs.


Why doesn't the UK adopt this policy???


I travel around the UK a lot and I frequently see miles & miles & miles of orange cones.


I think it's about time to just start using these orange cones where people are actually working.....................  Instead of just spreading them all over motorways with no intention of anyone doing any work for weeks on end???!!!


OK so I'm a 'ranting middle aged spinster' but I'm well angry tonight.  I actually don't want a 5hr journey to take 5 and a half hours because I've been held up by some orange cones.


If the 'orange cones' are actually there for a reason then that's fine.  Today they weren't.  There was no evidence of anyone working anywhere near any of the orange cones.


Orange cones???!!! - I hate them - Grrrrrrrrr..............................