I live near junction 9 of the M25, and scarcely a week goes by without there being some sort of dreadful shunt in the vicinity of that junction. Why that particular section of the M25 appears to be so lethal is a moot point – is it the concrete surface, or is it because it’s frequently used as a sort of local by-pass by people with only moderate experience of motorway driving?

Anyway, that’s not really my point. When these hold-ups occur, those newly fledged neo-cops from the Highways Agency set up diversions that exhibit no proper understanding of the surrounding road network. Consequently, chaos rules, and the last time it happened it took me almost two hours to accomplish a one-mile journey. You’d think the Highways Agency would know a thing or two about what roads go where, but in my experience there’s no evidence to support that assumption. In these circumstances ‘local knowledge’ is invaluable, and I suggest that the Agency recruits a few experienced drivers living close to each junction whom they can ’phone for advice before setting up their diversions. I’m up for it, what about you?