Topic ID 1059
Does anyone know of any plans to improve the road markings and replace the cats eyes on the A414 between Hertford and Hatfield? It's almost impossible to see anything other than the roadside markings on this very busy, very dark (last night) road. This is my first post.... so be gentle! [:)]
Reply ID 11899
I agree, it's OK if you can use full beam , but when you have to dip your lights it makes it worse..I always slow down but find cars flying past me (and I'm not a slow driver)
Reply ID 11908
I don't know about that, but I do know loads of people that have had shattered and cracked windscreens on this stretch of road - they blame chippings from the heavy plant from that farm just after the Essendon roundabout.
Reply ID 11913
I use the road daily. The strecth eastbound from Hatfield to the Essendon roundabout is awful. You might as well turn your lights off. I wondered if the cats eyes had become clogged with 'serious' muck from the heavy plant. P.S. Welcom, Dytter.
Reply ID 11915
Thank-you Ewoowar. *waves* Yep, the Essendon roundabout and the sweeping RH bend just before you get to Tesco's (Hatfield). In the wet it's even worse. Surely the council must be planning to do something about it or will it take a fatal accident to make that happen?
Reply ID 11918
I've been using the A414 for the last 15 years (sad i know!), Something needs to be done, i've seen so many near misses i've lost count. The Council have probably spent their budget on all the speed humps (sorry traffic calming) in Hatfield.
Reply ID 11930
To add a bit of balance here...I've been using that stretch of A414 for years and I can't say I have a problem with it at all - wide, smooth road, gentle bends etc. If you find it a problem you're probably driving too fast. Sounds like a classic case of the road being blamed rather than the drivers on it...
Reply ID 11954
I think it's more than just this stretch that's a bit dodgy. It seems that every roundabout on the A414 has the Hertford signpost either missing or in such a bad state it's ilegible. God help anyone who's never been before and is trying to find the place.
Reply ID 11960
quote:Drive east on the A414 from Hatfield to the Essendon roundabout. About 700 yards before the roundabout there is a side turning to some sort of works site. Driving at night from this turning onwards it is very difficult to make out the edge of the road. The cats eyes are obliterated, there are no street lamps and the general state of the kerb side and verge make it difficult.
Originally posted by Joby
To add a bit of balance here...I've been using that stretch of A414 for years and I can't say I have a problem with it at all - wide, smooth road, gentle bends etc. If you find it a problem you're probably driving too fast. Sounds like a classic case of the road being blamed rather than the drivers on it...
Reply ID 11962
quote:I guess we'll have to agree to disagree on this one - don't have a problem with it myself. Must be all the carrots [:)]
Originally posted by Ewoowarquote:Drive east on the A414 from Hatfield to the Essendon roundabout. About 700 yards before the roundabout there is a side turning to some sort of works site. Driving at night from this turning onwards it is very difficult to make out the edge of the road. The cats eyes are obliterated, there are no street lamps and the general state of the kerb side and verge make it difficult.
Originally posted by Joby
To add a bit of balance here...I've been using that stretch of A414 for years and I can't say I have a problem with it at all - wide, smooth road, gentle bends etc. If you find it a problem you're probably driving too fast. Sounds like a classic case of the road being blamed rather than the drivers on it...
Reply ID 11989
quote:If you've been driving it for years you could probably drive it blindfold. Which is what it can feel like on a very dark night. For anyone who is new to it or is a nervous driver or drives it occasionally, that stretch can put you on edge when it's dark. It's not the speed at which you are driving, necessarily, but the speed at which others drive.
Originally posted by Joby
To add a bit of balance here...I've been using that stretch of A414 for years and I can't say I have a problem with it at all - wide, smooth road, gentle bends etc. If you find it a problem you're probably driving too fast. Sounds like a classic case of the road being blamed rather than the drivers on it...
Reply ID 11993
always seems to get plenty of fog also.
Reply ID 12011
I suppose the road is not as bad as something like the Lower Hatfield Road. But you're not forced into driving along Lower Hatfield Road at 70 mph .
Reply ID 12025
Why are you forced to drive along the A414 at 70mph? It's a dual carriageway, anything that wants to overtake can. Maybe we just like different types of roads - I like Lower Hatfield Road too (especially the dark bits either side of Essendon [8D])
Reply ID 12030
quote:Every time I drive along that stretch of the A414 a shadowy figure drops onto the roof of my car as I pass under the A1000. Then they smash the passenger side window, climb in beside me and hold a gun to my head screaming, "Faster, faster, faster!".
Originally posted by Joby
Why are you forced to drive along the A414 at 70mph? It's a dual carriageway, anything that wants to overtake can. Maybe we just like different types of roads - I like Lower Hatfield Road too (especially the dark bits either side of Essendon [8D])
Reply ID 12036
quote:Honestly, officer, I swear it's true!
Originally posted by Ewoowar
Every time I drive along that stretch of the A414 a shadowy figure drops onto the roof of my car as I pass under the A1000. Then they smash the passenger side window, climb in beside me and hold a gun to my head screaming, "Faster, faster, faster!".
Reply ID 12053
Isn't this Highways Agency road, though I agree, the markings are bad.
Reply ID 12076
I think this has been mentioned in a previous thread - the road has been de-trunked which means that HCC are responsible for it.
Reply ID 12081
On the way home this evening I became aware of part of the problem. The constant dust and grime from the trucks that join the A414 from the site just before the Essendon roundabout cover the white lines by the side of the road. So the lines are visible up to a point and then they disappear.