Traffic Jam - what to do.

50Twuncle

What should you do - if stuck in an almost stationary queue of traffic on the Motorway for up to 6 hours (as recently happened on the M5)
Should you leave your engine running and possibly run out of fuel - If you've been driving all day, your fuel could be low.
or should you Stop/Start and possibly run out of battery juice
If the weather is hot - should you run the air con - or get out of the car and wait on the hard shoulder ?

Aylesbury_Duck

You have the judge the situation at the time. Getting out of the car and waiting on the hard shoulder is not a good idea unless being in the car is somehow unsafe. No need to run the aircon. Even on very hot days, having all the windows down and carrying plenty of water (which should be a given) will suffice.

Personally, I get in the inside lane, turn the engine off and only move forward when a decent gap develops, then crawl on idle to the back of the queue and switch off. Leave a decent gap to the car in front because if their car fails to start, you could be boxed in.

AdrianC

Sitting stationary in the car with the windows closed and aircon running for six hours would seem to be a very silly thing to do, wouldn't it?

Turn the engine off. Open the windows and doors, keeping an eye for emergency services needing to pass between lanes.

50Twuncle

Aylesbury_Duck wrote: »

You have the judge the situation at the time. Getting out of the car and waiting on the hard shoulder is not a good idea unless being in the car is somehow unsafe. No need to run the aircon. Even on very hot days, having all the windows down and carrying plenty of water (which should be a given) will suffice.

Personally, I get in the inside lane, turn the engine off and only move forward when a decent gap develops, then crawl on idle to the back of the queue and switch off. Leave a decent gap to the car in front because if their car fails to start, you could be boxed in.

But 6 hours of perhaps starting the engine every 15 minutes to catch up with the vehicle in front - would the battery survive ?
ps I have never (yet) been in such a situation - but just wondered what I would/should do..
Then there's the PEE problem - not too hard for a male - but a female is going to have difficulty...

AdrianC

50Twuncle wrote: »

But 6 hours of perhaps starting the engine every 15 minutes to catch up with the vehicle in front - would the battery survive ?

Of course it will... As soon as the engine starts, the alternator's charging, and will replace the power used by a quick flick of the starter in seconds.
6hrs, every 15min, is no more than 24 starts. How knackered is your battery? If you're having to churn it on the starter for ages before it fires, get the car fixed.

wgl2014

This explains the appropriate response:
https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0106856/

VFR

50Twuncle wrote: »

But 6 hours of perhaps starting the engine every 15 minutes to catch up with the vehicle in front - would the battery survive ?
ps I have never (yet) been in such a situation - but just wondered what I would/should do..
Then there's the PEE problem - not too hard for a male - but a female is going to have difficulty...

Yes a battery in good condition would.
On any of the start-ups should you hear that the engine takes a tad longer to fire (unlikely) then leave it running for a while.

Aylesbury_Duck

50Twuncle wrote: »

Then there's the PEE problem - not too hard for a male - but a female is going to have difficulty...

Remember those bottles of water you should always carry with you....?

Or, if the jam really is that severe then (safely) leaving the car and using the roadside foliage is the only option available. It's all about common sense.

AdrianC

Aylesbury_Duck wrote: »

Or, if the jam really is that severe then (safely) leaving the car and using the roadside foliage is the only option available.

Let's face it, you won't be the only one in that situation, either...

It's all about common sense.

I admire your optimism.

Aylesbury_Duck

AdrianC wrote: »

I admire your optimism.

Yes, I forgot that continually opening and closing the car door to go and urinate would eventually drain the battery via the courtesy lights.

50Twuncle

Aylesbury_Duck wrote: »

Remember those bottles of water you should always carry with you....?

Or, if the jam really is that severe then (safely) leaving the car and using the roadside foliage is the only option available. It's all about common sense.

I really thought that you were going to suggest a Jam Jar - for women to use ........