Apparently the M5 was closed yesterday near Cullompton in Devon. It appears a guy was standing on a bridge above the carriageway and threatening to jump. As much as I sympathise with his situation; I strongly feel that the police were wrong to completely close the motorway for five hours leaving motorists trapped in freezing conditions. There have been several instances recently of huge motorway delays for one reason or another, making me very reluctant to use these 'road traps'. I am sure that there are instances of people in these traps being taken ill or even dying.

I think no matter what the cause of these obstructions, the police should make it a priority to keep traffic moving.

but if you knew the person?

Google for the bridge climber who watched another oriental climb up to give him support - or so he thought.

The second climber reached him and pushed the traffic stopper off ....

Tut - Tut.

Same thing happened up here a few months ago. Some stupid woman on the bridge at Bodelwyddan closed the motorway in both directions, as well as the road bridge, and brought the whole of North Wales to a halt. People were trapped in their cars for six hours.
She never even jumped at the end of it. Just wanted a bit of attention.

I would have given them a push, that's what friends are for

Nice to have some support on this issue. Apparently one of those trapped was an eight week old baby. Had I been a parent I think I would have dialled 999 !! I remember once in Germany there was an autobahn accident involving a lorry which flattened a saloon car killing all the occupants. I was the fifth vehicle behind the scene. Rescue vehicles were on site within minutes, and a helicopter landed to no avail of course. Once the fatality situation had been established the autobahn was immediately re-opened; time taken well short of one hour.