0:00:02 > 0:00:07232 miles of road, carrying over 40 million vehicles a year.
0:00:07 > 0:00:09The M6 is the longest
0:00:09 > 0:00:12and one of the busiest motorways in Britain.
0:00:12 > 0:00:1724/7, 365, the M6 is solid every day of the year.
0:00:17 > 0:00:21Outside Birmingham it meets four other motorways,
0:00:21 > 0:00:26and keeping them running is a constant battle for time and resources.
0:00:26 > 0:00:29There are 101 different jobs on this motorway,
0:00:29 > 0:00:32yet not one motorist is aware of what we do.
0:00:33 > 0:00:38A hidden army of men and women work day and night...
0:00:38 > 0:00:41Have you ever lay down on the M6? I have.
0:00:41 > 0:00:45And I've played football on the M25! HE LAUGHS
0:00:45 > 0:00:47..whatever the weather.
0:00:47 > 0:00:51On the M5 you'll find your money, on the M50 you'll find the porn.
0:00:53 > 0:00:56Every day they set out to control the chaos...
0:00:56 > 0:01:00Wait there! Jesus. HORN SOUNDS
0:01:00 > 0:01:02..and to help us when things go wrong...
0:01:02 > 0:01:042-1 can I have an ambo, please?
0:01:04 > 0:01:07..trying, at all costs,
0:01:07 > 0:01:10to keep Britain on the move.
0:01:10 > 0:01:15Oh, God, please! Oh, I think my tyre's blown.
0:01:15 > 0:01:18They should call it the MAD6 instead of the M6!
0:01:25 > 0:01:29Hello, Highways Agency. Have you broken down?
0:01:29 > 0:01:33The regional control centre in Birmingham is the eyes and ears
0:01:33 > 0:01:35of the Highways Agency in the West Midlands.
0:01:35 > 0:01:39We've got a pedestrian walking up the central reservation.
0:01:41 > 0:01:43What's that car up there?
0:01:43 > 0:01:47But managing who or what travels on the roads is far from predictable.
0:01:47 > 0:01:51Definitely got two pedestrians on the toll.
0:01:51 > 0:01:55- They're on skateboards. - On skateboards, yeah. 1-3-3-5.
0:01:55 > 0:01:59That's the first time I've seen people on skateboards.
0:01:59 > 0:02:05Cyclists, yes. Joggers, yes. Skateboards. It takes all sorts.
0:02:06 > 0:02:10It does surprise you, the type of incidents you get.
0:02:10 > 0:02:13People having picnics on the side of the road
0:02:13 > 0:02:18and I've had people having naughties in cars when they're on camera.
0:02:18 > 0:02:21Yeah, we've had a report of a horse either near the carriageway
0:02:21 > 0:02:23or on the carriageway.
0:02:23 > 0:02:25Had a quick scan through the cameras,
0:02:25 > 0:02:28nothing obvious at the moment.
0:02:28 > 0:02:31The police have found the horse close to junction four.
0:02:33 > 0:02:35Up on the M6, up in by Keele services,
0:02:35 > 0:02:38we often get reports of suicidal horses.
0:02:38 > 0:02:40There's a bridge which connects two farmers' fields
0:02:40 > 0:02:44and the horses actually stop and look at the traffic as they go past,
0:02:44 > 0:02:47and you'd be surprised at the number of 999 calls they actually get
0:02:47 > 0:02:51with them saying that they think the horse is going to jump.
0:02:51 > 0:02:565-4. You'll find the debris now. It's just at lane two, lane three.
0:02:57 > 0:03:01Here staff oversee 500 miles of road and six different motorways,
0:03:01 > 0:03:04including one of Britain's busiest, the M6.
0:03:06 > 0:03:11So, we've got here the bottom of the M5 and the M50,
0:03:11 > 0:03:15bottom of the M40 and the M1.
0:03:15 > 0:03:19I'd say the M6 is probably the busiest for multiple incidents.
0:03:19 > 0:03:21But the M5 can be just as bad as well,
0:03:21 > 0:03:24and it depends on the time of year as well.
0:03:24 > 0:03:27Because obviously the M5 gets all the caravans in the summer.
0:03:27 > 0:03:29You can't really predict it.
0:03:29 > 0:03:32You can't say, "It's always there," because it's not.
0:03:32 > 0:03:36And they're like children! They've all got their own personalities.
0:03:39 > 0:03:42The most unpredictable challenge that faces the motorway
0:03:42 > 0:03:47and the people that run it is the Great British weather.
0:03:47 > 0:03:50You will get incidents, you'll get accidents,
0:03:50 > 0:03:54you'll get members of the public not driving to the right road conditions
0:03:54 > 0:03:59and it means our workload doubles, trebles, quadruples.
0:04:02 > 0:04:05I hate rain. Oh, gosh.
0:04:05 > 0:04:08The wind, I hate the wind.
0:04:08 > 0:04:11And fog, no. Wouldn't even come on in fog.
0:04:11 > 0:04:14- Do you panic in the rain? - If you're driving, yeah.
0:04:18 > 0:04:22When it's icy, you've got to be really careful when you're driving.
0:04:23 > 0:04:28- You have to drive really slow. - Or just not go out.
0:04:30 > 0:04:32It's getting a bit windy down here.
0:04:32 > 0:04:36Is it a bit more open, do you think? We're over no bridges.
0:04:37 > 0:04:40Worst nightmare! Bridges!
0:04:40 > 0:04:44I don't know why I grip the steering wheel harder.
0:04:44 > 0:04:47More control! Like on an Alton Towers ride.
0:04:51 > 0:04:53Waiting for it to kick off now.
0:04:53 > 0:04:55In the regional control centre,
0:04:55 > 0:04:58a freak hail storm has hit the West Midlands.
0:04:58 > 0:05:03Reports of a collision. Two vehicles, Audi and a Mini.
0:05:03 > 0:05:06Two RTCs, two RTCs.
0:05:06 > 0:05:11There's two cars in lane three and there's four on the hard shoulder.
0:05:12 > 0:05:16Every year there are more than 250,000 road traffic collisions,
0:05:16 > 0:05:20also known as RTCs, on Britain's major roads.
0:05:20 > 0:05:24RADIO: The driver said there's no injury, his wife is pregnant
0:05:24 > 0:05:27and they have got a small child. Can you get the ambulance?
0:05:27 > 0:05:30Oh, and here's the rain. Marvellous(!)
0:05:30 > 0:05:33- They said it was hail storming, isn't it?- It's all a bit mad.
0:05:35 > 0:05:38It's reported as a non-injury RTC,
0:05:38 > 0:05:41however because the lady's obviously heavily pregnant,
0:05:41 > 0:05:46my colleague that arrived first on scene has called the ambulance purely as a precaution.
0:05:46 > 0:05:48If you look to see where the tyres have gone,
0:05:48 > 0:05:52they've skidded in lane one, just by where the ambulance is.
0:05:52 > 0:05:55Tyre treads have actually come up to the barrier here.
0:05:57 > 0:06:01It's obviously hit the side and that's what caused it to roll, causing the damage.
0:06:01 > 0:06:03As you can see from here.
0:06:04 > 0:06:08Honestly, all this weather's actually occurred in five minutes.
0:06:08 > 0:06:10Obviously, this is the Great British weather.
0:06:10 > 0:06:13But unfortunately it is very, very slippy underfoot.
0:06:13 > 0:06:17But as you can see, people are still driving above the speed limit.
0:06:17 > 0:06:21Planning for the effects of winter weather on Britain's roads
0:06:21 > 0:06:24is one of the key jobs of the Highways Agency.
0:06:26 > 0:06:28Weather chaos, snow and arctic winds
0:06:28 > 0:06:31bring large parts of Britain to a standstill.
0:06:31 > 0:06:33Thousands of motorists are stuck in their cars.
0:06:33 > 0:06:36Roads and trains are badly disrupted.
0:06:38 > 0:06:41On the 31st January 2003,
0:06:41 > 0:06:45a weather event known as White Friday changed everything.
0:06:46 > 0:06:50Heavy snowstorms trapped drivers on the M11 for 18 hours,
0:06:50 > 0:06:53forcing them to sleep in their cars.
0:06:53 > 0:06:56There's been people, elderly people and children, possibly babies,
0:06:56 > 0:07:00stuck on the roads around here since four o'clock yesterday afternoon,
0:07:00 > 0:07:03which I find, in the 21st century, quite unbelievable.
0:07:03 > 0:07:05Well, I'd like to start, if I may,
0:07:05 > 0:07:08by apologising to those people that have had to put up
0:07:08 > 0:07:11with these atrocious conditions, stuck in vehicles for hours on end.
0:07:11 > 0:07:13That is just not good enough.
0:07:13 > 0:07:17I am not prepared to let this sort of situation happen again.
0:07:21 > 0:07:23As a result of White Friday,
0:07:23 > 0:07:27the Highways Agency launched a new team of traffic officers
0:07:27 > 0:07:30to deal with incidents and react to weather events.
0:07:36 > 0:07:41Martin Studt was one of the original Highways Agency traffic officers.
0:07:41 > 0:07:44He knows only too well what is at stake
0:07:44 > 0:07:46when winter preparation goes wrong.
0:07:46 > 0:07:49There was a lot of criticism, especially in Parliament,
0:07:49 > 0:07:54for what was thought to be catastrophic failings
0:07:54 > 0:07:56of the Highways Agency at the time.
0:07:56 > 0:07:59It feels like people are waiting for you to get it wrong.
0:07:59 > 0:08:04There is a huge amount of interest across the winter period
0:08:04 > 0:08:08and it feels like the lions are poised to grab you
0:08:08 > 0:08:11because you haven't kept a road open.
0:08:16 > 0:08:19This winter began on a Wednesday in November,
0:08:19 > 0:08:21with a message from the Roads Minister,
0:08:21 > 0:08:23the man in charge of our motorways.
0:08:23 > 0:08:25It's that time of year again,
0:08:25 > 0:08:28we're about to be braced with a big winter coming up, aren't we?
0:08:28 > 0:08:31Yes, well, I gave evidence to the Transport Select Committee
0:08:31 > 0:08:35three or four weeks ago on winter resilience and I assured them
0:08:35 > 0:08:38that we had plenty of gritters, that we have plenty of salt.
0:08:38 > 0:08:40We have better-than-ever forecasting,
0:08:40 > 0:08:42in terms of when it's going to be cold,
0:08:42 > 0:08:44and therefore I think we're in a better position
0:08:44 > 0:08:49than we've ever been before to take on the elements when we have bad weather,
0:08:49 > 0:08:51which I'm sure we will have this winter.
0:08:51 > 0:08:55The media's prediction - they don't always get it right, shall we say!
0:08:55 > 0:08:59I mean, here's, for instance, the Daily Express.
0:08:59 > 0:09:02"Siberian snow to hit Britain."
0:09:04 > 0:09:07This was forecast for this week, according to this.
0:09:08 > 0:09:11There you go. I don't see no snow out there.
0:09:11 > 0:09:14Not much snow out there at all, is there, really?
0:09:16 > 0:09:18Winter maintenance manager Mark Jones is in charge
0:09:18 > 0:09:20of deploying the gritters.
0:09:20 > 0:09:25Gritting is a chance for some overtime for the maintenance teams,
0:09:25 > 0:09:27earning a stand-by fee whether they grit or not.
0:09:27 > 0:09:31They stay in the luxury of their home with their feet up,
0:09:31 > 0:09:36getting £20, sipping cups of teas,
0:09:36 > 0:09:38waiting for the weather, as you can see.
0:09:38 > 0:09:41A lot of times during the winter it's lovely and sunny
0:09:41 > 0:09:44so they just get all this money in their back pocket, stock it all up.
0:09:44 > 0:09:46He's on stand-by.
0:09:46 > 0:09:50We don't know what he does, but he's always standing by.
0:09:50 > 0:09:53See? Can't even answer that one cos he knows it's the truth!
0:09:56 > 0:09:59Keeping the M6 and surrounding motorways safe in winter
0:09:59 > 0:10:03falls to severe weather manager Richard Hancocks.
0:10:03 > 0:10:06In winter, whenever we travel anywhere, we have to play games,
0:10:06 > 0:10:08obviously, like all families do.
0:10:08 > 0:10:11Our games tend to be around spotting things.
0:10:11 > 0:10:14Sadly, whenever I'm doing it it's spot the salt barn,
0:10:14 > 0:10:17spot the weather station, spot the gritter.
0:10:17 > 0:10:19Daddy gets very, very boring.
0:10:19 > 0:10:23This country is full of individuals who get very, very excited
0:10:23 > 0:10:27by the weather so when we get the weather wrong, they love it.
0:10:27 > 0:10:29"Oh, we're going to get snow." Nothing comes,
0:10:29 > 0:10:32"Oh, you said snow, we didn't see a flake!"
0:10:33 > 0:10:35We get that all the time.
0:10:35 > 0:10:37We have to err on the side of caution and then we get moaned at
0:10:37 > 0:10:40cos we got it wrong, and equally, we get moaned at because we will say
0:10:40 > 0:10:43it's not going to be very severe, the weather's going to be fine,
0:10:43 > 0:10:47and all of a sudden the snow arrives and causes a little bit of chaos.
0:10:48 > 0:10:51The Highways Agency in the West Midlands invests an average
0:10:51 > 0:10:57of £1.2 million in 35,000 tonnes of salt during the winter.
0:10:58 > 0:11:01It's chalk and cheese, unfortunately.
0:11:01 > 0:11:04People often say, "If you didn't spend a million pounds on that
0:11:04 > 0:11:06"you could have improved this roundabout here,
0:11:06 > 0:11:09"which is chaotic at peak hours." It doesn't work like that.
0:11:09 > 0:11:13I can't see a time at the moment when this country will not want
0:11:13 > 0:11:17to protect the motorway and trunk road network from ice and snow.
0:11:17 > 0:11:20The salt in my hand at the moment is probably more or less
0:11:20 > 0:11:23what we'll be putting on a meter squared in the motorway network
0:11:23 > 0:11:26in the West Midlands and arguably, if that wasn't there
0:11:26 > 0:11:30and ice formed and somebody died as a result of that,
0:11:30 > 0:11:34that salt probably cost us about 10p, say, in round figures.
0:11:34 > 0:11:37That's a very shrewd minor investment.
0:11:37 > 0:11:39This is my little den, this is.
0:11:39 > 0:11:43Quite messy at the moment. It's usually quite neat, isn't it, Tina?
0:11:43 > 0:11:45Are you an organised man?
0:11:45 > 0:11:47I would like to think I am organised, yes.
0:11:47 > 0:11:50But I think you've caught me on a bad day.
0:11:50 > 0:11:54Hello, Peter! Sounds like an echo. Are you in the bath?
0:11:54 > 0:11:57Oh, why can I hear bubbles?
0:11:57 > 0:12:00With road surface temperatures due to drop below freezing tonight,
0:12:00 > 0:12:03Mark deploys his gritting troops.
0:12:03 > 0:12:05All right, then, mate, I've got to go, mate.
0:12:05 > 0:12:08I know you like talking and all that but I've got things to do.
0:12:08 > 0:12:11All right, then, mate. OK, yeah. You enjoy yourself.
0:12:11 > 0:12:13Ta-ra. Ta-ra.
0:12:13 > 0:12:15I don't know what all the moaning's about.
0:12:15 > 0:12:17They all moan about when they go out gritting.
0:12:17 > 0:12:20It's really very therapeutic, therapeutic going out there,
0:12:20 > 0:12:24spreading a bit of salt and put a bit of music on.
0:12:24 > 0:12:26Don't see what the problem is, really.
0:12:31 > 0:12:34It's what I hate, the call out bit,
0:12:34 > 0:12:37because you have to carry your phone wherever you go.
0:12:37 > 0:12:40Even when you get to the toilet, you have to have your phone
0:12:40 > 0:12:43in your pocket because it can go off at any time.
0:12:43 > 0:12:47On the front line of winter maintenance is gritter Pete.
0:12:47 > 0:12:50Many a time, I've just been to the chippy
0:12:50 > 0:12:51and then the call you need to attend
0:12:51 > 0:12:55and you're wolfing it down as quick as you can.
0:12:55 > 0:12:57"I've got to go, I've got to go!"
0:12:57 > 0:13:01And my wife is going, "I'm sure they'll wait." But no, they won't.
0:13:01 > 0:13:06If they say you have to grit at this time, you have to grit at this time.
0:13:06 > 0:13:08There is no two ways about it.
0:13:08 > 0:13:13He's been spreading salt on the same route for the last six years.
0:13:13 > 0:13:18The tarmac, as we see, it's got lots of little holes in it, like an Aero.
0:13:18 > 0:13:25And when we grit we spread the grit all in those holes
0:13:25 > 0:13:29so when it does freeze, effectively,
0:13:29 > 0:13:33there's salt and grit in there to stop the water in those holes from freezing.
0:13:33 > 0:13:36And where are we coming up to now?
0:13:36 > 0:13:39This is junction six, which is Spaghetti Junction.
0:13:39 > 0:13:43It's always being repaired, it's just constantly being repaired all the time.
0:13:43 > 0:13:48Salt will rot anything. Anything metal-wise, it'll just rot.
0:13:48 > 0:13:51Any of these juts you feel we're going over now and you can hear,
0:13:51 > 0:13:56then the salt will get in them and they'll just rot them away.
0:13:56 > 0:13:58So, you're effectively putting something down on the motorway
0:13:58 > 0:14:02- that's destroying the motorway? - Yeah!
0:14:02 > 0:14:05Yeah. If you want to put it like that, yeah, we are.
0:14:16 > 0:14:20With its sprawling concrete arteries towering over a network of canals,
0:14:20 > 0:14:23rivers and railways, Spaghetti Junction
0:14:23 > 0:14:26is the largest and most complex interchange in Europe.
0:14:28 > 0:14:32It's like a cathedral, with the columns holding the beams up.
0:14:32 > 0:14:35It's holding a lot of concrete up.
0:14:35 > 0:14:38It's like a big jigsaw really, isn't it?
0:14:38 > 0:14:40How everything just slots in together.
0:14:41 > 0:14:46It carries 225,000 vehicles a day, but this junction,
0:14:46 > 0:14:49loved or loathed by millions, is deteriorating.
0:14:49 > 0:14:52We're actually underneath Spaghetti Junction now,
0:14:52 > 0:14:55this is one of the crossbeams that's holding the motorway up.
0:14:55 > 0:14:58The salt from winter gritting on the road surface
0:14:58 > 0:15:02is corroding the steel rods, causing the concrete to deteriorate.
0:15:04 > 0:15:06Basically when the salt comes through the beam,
0:15:06 > 0:15:09it goes on top of the beam and if there's cracks on the beam,
0:15:09 > 0:15:12the water will get in and it'll pop the concrete.
0:15:12 > 0:15:16Repairs started on Spaghetti Junction in 1989,
0:15:16 > 0:15:19and site manager Steve Wood has dedicated the last nine years
0:15:19 > 0:15:21to the project.
0:15:21 > 0:15:24Everybody's going, doing their business, driving along
0:15:24 > 0:15:28on the motorway, and they don't even realise we're under here,
0:15:28 > 0:15:31working away, making sure it's safe
0:15:31 > 0:15:33for the guys who are driving over the top.
0:15:36 > 0:15:40Built in 1972, Spaghetti Junction was a feat of British engineering.
0:15:43 > 0:15:45NEWSREEL: Rising out of the mud, the finished columns
0:15:45 > 0:15:48are like the vast ruins of an ancient Greek temple.
0:15:52 > 0:15:54At a cost of £9 million,
0:15:54 > 0:15:58it took just four years to build the six-lane carriageway and link roads
0:15:58 > 0:16:03that have become an integral part in the country's motorway system.
0:16:03 > 0:16:05It appears many drivers just can't wait to try out
0:16:05 > 0:16:08that multi-multi level interchange at Graverly Hill.
0:16:08 > 0:16:10Well, a friendly word of advice -
0:16:10 > 0:16:13know where you want to go and just follow the signs.
0:16:13 > 0:16:16I declare this motorway open!
0:16:25 > 0:16:28In this hidden world of rabbit warrens of scaffolding,
0:16:28 > 0:16:32Steve and his team are at the cutting edge of motorway repairs
0:16:32 > 0:16:36as they replace rusting steel and ageing concrete.
0:16:37 > 0:16:41The first stage of the process is to blast out the old concrete,
0:16:41 > 0:16:44using high pressure water jets.
0:16:44 > 0:16:46This is rubber
0:16:46 > 0:16:50and the trousers underneath are made of Kevlar.
0:16:50 > 0:16:55You know the body armour, that's what they use it for.
0:16:55 > 0:16:59Kevlar is used in combat, because it's bullet proof.
0:16:59 > 0:17:02That's where it, that's where it protects you, from there,
0:17:02 > 0:17:04going round, main arteries.
0:17:04 > 0:17:07What would happen if you don't wear all this stuff?
0:17:07 > 0:17:10- You'd get hurt.- You'd get wet.
0:17:10 > 0:17:13You'd get wet and yeah,
0:17:13 > 0:17:17the concrete would just pulverise you, basically, it would hurt.
0:17:24 > 0:17:27At £32,000 per square inch of pressure,
0:17:27 > 0:17:31the water cuts through the concrete like a knife through butter.
0:17:34 > 0:17:36Once the old concrete is blasted out,
0:17:36 > 0:17:38any rusted steel rods are replaced.
0:17:40 > 0:17:42The next step is to fill the gaps with new concrete.
0:17:45 > 0:17:46There's issues like this in Japan
0:17:46 > 0:17:51and they're looking at ideas in Japan what we do here in Birmingham.
0:17:52 > 0:17:55Do they speak English or do you speak Japanese?
0:17:55 > 0:17:59They spoke English, I can't speak Japanese!
0:18:02 > 0:18:05Finally, a network of cables are installed
0:18:05 > 0:18:08that constantly send electric currents into the steel,
0:18:08 > 0:18:11ensuring Spaghetti Junction endures decades of winter salting.
0:18:13 > 0:18:18The current pulverises the steel, it just stops it corroding.
0:18:18 > 0:18:20It's maybe, three volts, two volts, that's all you need.
0:18:20 > 0:18:25It's nothing drastic, with a 20-25 year life span.
0:18:27 > 0:18:29The Junction's maintenance work is ongoing,
0:18:29 > 0:18:33and Steve intends to see it through until he retires.
0:18:33 > 0:18:36People say it's just a job, but it's not, it's...
0:18:36 > 0:18:40I'm passionate about working on Spaghetti because I just feel
0:18:40 > 0:18:46as if I've done my part, my little bit towards keeping it up and built.
0:18:46 > 0:18:48Are you proud?
0:18:48 > 0:18:52Yeah, yeah, I'm proud of... Yeah, very proud of it.
0:19:01 > 0:19:05Just to let you know, we've got lanes 2 and 3 set for you.
0:19:05 > 0:19:08The regional control centre in the West Midlands
0:19:08 > 0:19:11is the traffic office's headquarters.
0:19:11 > 0:19:17In all weather, 365 days a year, staff coordinate the on-road teams.
0:19:19 > 0:19:24Got a male walking on the M6, just like he's on a Sunday stroll.
0:19:25 > 0:19:28We're just coming up the hard shoulder now, behind him.
0:19:28 > 0:19:30Not a clue.
0:19:30 > 0:19:33There you are, just noticed it, right next to him.
0:19:33 > 0:19:37Highways Agency traffic officers patrol the motorways,
0:19:37 > 0:19:41attending to routine breakdowns, incidents and even pedestrians.
0:19:41 > 0:19:46They're just advising him of the error of his ways.
0:19:46 > 0:19:48There you are, he's from Latvia
0:19:48 > 0:19:52and he's trying to get to Birmingham and at the moment he's up here on
0:19:52 > 0:19:57the M6 between 13 and 12, and he's trying to get down into Birmingham.
0:19:57 > 0:20:01So, he's got a long way to walk!
0:20:03 > 0:20:05You don't know what's the matter with it?
0:20:05 > 0:20:10- Where are you trying to get to? - Dudley.- Oh right, not far, local.
0:20:11 > 0:20:14At junction ten, traffic officers Karen and Colin
0:20:14 > 0:20:16have been called to a live lane breakdown.
0:20:18 > 0:20:20It's not good here because we're on a bend.
0:20:21 > 0:20:24Breakdown callouts are higher in winter,
0:20:24 > 0:20:28putting extra pressure on the Highways Agency traffic officers.
0:20:28 > 0:20:30You should never be a human bollard!
0:20:30 > 0:20:33No! That's not the name of the game.
0:20:34 > 0:20:38See, look at that, Colin jumping across there like a gazelle.
0:20:38 > 0:20:40- I couldn't get over like that. - Go on, give us a go.
0:20:40 > 0:20:43SHE LAUGHS
0:20:44 > 0:20:48In fact, I should actually be this side.
0:20:49 > 0:20:52I know! Ha ha!
0:20:52 > 0:20:56- Different style.- Yeah, yeah, very different.
0:20:56 > 0:20:59He leaps over like a gazelle, I get over like a sloth.
0:21:06 > 0:21:08This is lovely, absolutely lovely.
0:21:09 > 0:21:13Karen and Colin are two of the longest serving traffic officers
0:21:13 > 0:21:17and have over 60 years' driving experience between them.
0:21:19 > 0:21:23I think driving as a whole was a pleasure at one time, initially.
0:21:23 > 0:21:27I can remember as a young man when I first started driving,
0:21:27 > 0:21:30it was a pleasure to go out. I purposefully went out
0:21:30 > 0:21:31just to have a drive.
0:21:31 > 0:21:33Times have a-changed.
0:21:34 > 0:21:39It's that intensely used that the slightest thing to stop that flow
0:21:39 > 0:21:41of traffic has a massive impact.
0:21:43 > 0:21:47Wheelbarrows falling off the back of lorries and swans...
0:21:47 > 0:21:48Blown tyres.
0:21:48 > 0:21:53- People walking.- Tyre debris. - Anything on the more minor level,
0:21:53 > 0:21:56that's where we can be there as quickly as possible to sort it out.
0:21:56 > 0:21:59You know, you have people shout at you things like,
0:21:59 > 0:22:00"Get it out the way!"
0:22:00 > 0:22:03Well, don't you think we would if we could, you know?
0:22:03 > 0:22:05We're not just sitting here because I like it!
0:22:09 > 0:22:12Following the White Friday snow storms of 2003,
0:22:12 > 0:22:17over 1,000 traffic officers now patrol the motorways,
0:22:17 > 0:22:18helping Britain's motorists.
0:22:23 > 0:22:26Oh, all right, Seb, I think he's a quiet crocodile...
0:22:26 > 0:22:29I can see red flashing lights in front.
0:22:29 > 0:22:32Oh, Sebby, there are some flashing lights coming up on the motorway.
0:22:32 > 0:22:33Think it's the police?
0:22:33 > 0:22:35Is it the police?
0:22:37 > 0:22:40I don't know, I don't know what they do.
0:22:40 > 0:22:41What does a traffic officer do?
0:22:44 > 0:22:47The truck drivers call them plastic policemen.
0:22:47 > 0:22:50Fully aware of them, you often see them sitting on their perch
0:22:50 > 0:22:52on the side of the motorway, ready to come on if they see...
0:22:52 > 0:22:57if there's an accident, they're normally the first ones to get to it.
0:22:57 > 0:22:59They look like police cars,
0:22:59 > 0:23:02because they've got the high-vis stickers on, haven't they?
0:23:03 > 0:23:05And then when you get closer, I just think,
0:23:05 > 0:23:08"Oh... they're not the police."
0:23:09 > 0:23:11And what does that mean, then?
0:23:11 > 0:23:12Drive faster.
0:23:15 > 0:23:19You see in the press, certain people like to run us down.
0:23:19 > 0:23:20TV presenters!
0:23:20 > 0:23:22HE LAUGHS
0:23:22 > 0:23:25Jeremy Clarkson runs us down a lot, says we're Wombles.
0:23:25 > 0:23:30I think he got some image in his mind that we picked up litter.
0:23:30 > 0:23:34Good old Jeremy Clarkson, he's made a mockery of us in his shows,
0:23:34 > 0:23:36blowing up the mock hato cars.
0:23:36 > 0:23:39RINGTONE: "Remember You're A Womble"
0:23:42 > 0:23:45You've got to embrace it, haven't you? You've got to embrace it.
0:23:47 > 0:23:48Jeremy Clarkson.
0:23:48 > 0:23:52Somebody that spouts on like they know it all.
0:23:53 > 0:23:57Mind you, the last time I was at a closure on the toll,
0:23:57 > 0:24:02who should come past me, but James Bond.
0:24:02 > 0:24:04- James Bond?- Yes, Timothy Dalton.
0:24:04 > 0:24:07- Really?- Yes. And he says, "This isn't very good, is it?"
0:24:07 > 0:24:11I said, "No, not really, which way are you going?
0:24:11 > 0:24:14"North or south?" That's my claim to fame.
0:24:20 > 0:24:23Don't go yet, wait, don't go yet, wait.
0:24:23 > 0:24:26Go, go, go, go, go, go!
0:24:26 > 0:24:29Watch out for that speed boat coming round the corner.
0:24:29 > 0:24:30That jet ski.
0:24:31 > 0:24:34Alongside the traffic officers patrolling the motorway
0:24:34 > 0:24:37are Lee and Wayne of the incident response unit.
0:24:37 > 0:24:40We've done some litter picking, we've cleaned the gullies off at 16,
0:24:40 > 0:24:44cleaned some gullies up on the straight. We've been busy today.
0:24:44 > 0:24:46They serve 100 miles of the motorway
0:24:46 > 0:24:50and deal with whatever it throws at them.
0:24:50 > 0:24:54It's like a skid in the pants really, to be honest with you.
0:24:54 > 0:24:57The motorway is like a skid in the pants.
0:24:57 > 0:25:00But we have to clean it up, we've got to mop it up.
0:25:02 > 0:25:06During winter, the motorway verges have less greenery and foliage,
0:25:06 > 0:25:08making it an ideal time for litter picking.
0:25:10 > 0:25:13This is like the glorious side of our job,
0:25:13 > 0:25:15picking up someone else's rubbish.
0:25:17 > 0:25:22I reckon the people who chucked this rubbish, their house is immaculate because they've chucked it all here!
0:25:22 > 0:25:26Tell you what we do find a lot of, pornos. Pornos.
0:25:26 > 0:25:27Yeah, we do.
0:25:27 > 0:25:31Money, iPods, phones, wallets.
0:25:31 > 0:25:33Tools and shoes as well.
0:25:33 > 0:25:36There's always only ever one shoe, in't there?
0:25:36 > 0:25:39There's always only ever one shoe, where's the other one?
0:25:39 > 0:25:43Doing litter picking, you find out the nation's favourite crisp has got to be cheese and onion.
0:25:43 > 0:25:45- Yeah!- Cheese and onion crisps.
0:25:45 > 0:25:46THEY LAUGH
0:25:46 > 0:25:51Every year, 180,000 sacks of litter are collected on Britain's motorways
0:25:51 > 0:25:53and major trunk roads, and if it's not picked up
0:25:53 > 0:25:57it can block drains, causing surface water on the carriageway.
0:25:59 > 0:26:02I hate this job, absolutely hate this job.
0:26:02 > 0:26:05There's just no need for it.
0:26:05 > 0:26:07The money that's spent picking litter up
0:26:07 > 0:26:10- should be spent somewhere better. - Definitely.
0:26:10 > 0:26:13But doing a job like this, when it's done and completed,
0:26:13 > 0:26:18it's the satisfaction of like, it's all neat and tidy,
0:26:18 > 0:26:22until like, tomorrow when it's going to be like this again.
0:26:22 > 0:26:24We're nearly there, Wayne.
0:26:24 > 0:26:27What we got here? Fresh cooked chicken.
0:26:27 > 0:26:29Nice.
0:26:34 > 0:26:36Even weather forecasters are describing the storm
0:26:36 > 0:26:41now battering western parts of the UK as "exceptional".
0:26:41 > 0:26:43A month's worth of rain is anticipated to fall
0:26:43 > 0:26:47over the next two days in some areas, with now almost every part
0:26:47 > 0:26:51of the UK covered by a weather warning for wind, rain or snow.
0:26:53 > 0:26:55At the West Midlands regional control centre,
0:26:55 > 0:26:58an emergency meeting is called.
0:26:58 > 0:27:01Today's meeting is all about whatever the weather
0:27:01 > 0:27:03throws at us today, we're prepared, we're ready,
0:27:03 > 0:27:07working under pressure to make sure from ministers that everything
0:27:07 > 0:27:11runs smoothly across the country and the road infrastructure
0:27:11 > 0:27:16bears the brunt of the weather in such a way
0:27:16 > 0:27:19as to not disrupt the nation too much, we hope.
0:27:21 > 0:27:24Good morning, one and all, this is Steve, West Midlands RCC,
0:27:24 > 0:27:26thank you for dialling in this morning.
0:27:26 > 0:27:30With the West Midlands on high alert, the Highways Agency
0:27:30 > 0:27:34and winter managers plan for whatever the weather may bring.
0:27:36 > 0:27:38The worst case scenario for us,
0:27:38 > 0:27:42I suppose today, would be an inaccurate forecast.
0:27:42 > 0:27:46It's very hard to predict, at the moment the wind is the one
0:27:46 > 0:27:47that we're going to have to watch.
0:27:47 > 0:27:51Andrew, can you give us an update from the Met office then, please?
0:27:51 > 0:27:54'At the moment what we're going to see is a core of heavier rain
0:27:54 > 0:27:58'and that's going to be accompanied by some strong winds.
0:27:58 > 0:28:01'Isolated gusts of 40 to 50 miles an hour.'
0:28:02 > 0:28:05Richard Hancocks, Amey severe weather manager.
0:28:05 > 0:28:07We've taken a forecast this morning which suggests
0:28:07 > 0:28:11slightly higher wind speeds than you're predicting.
0:28:11 > 0:28:14We've got west one domain where they're telling us
0:28:14 > 0:28:17we might experience 65 mile an hour winds
0:28:17 > 0:28:20as far across as Shrewsbury and Shropshire.
0:28:20 > 0:28:22'Yeah, I can see where they're getting that from.
0:28:22 > 0:28:24'It's just the wind's gone more into the west
0:28:24 > 0:28:28'and you get a core of strong winds, but it's essentially impacting
0:28:28 > 0:28:32'north Wales, but for Shropshire area,
0:28:32 > 0:28:35'it'll be much less than that, essentially.
0:28:35 > 0:28:38'So more like, towards 50 miles an hour.'
0:28:39 > 0:28:42'The planning, when the storm was first forecast,
0:28:42 > 0:28:44'we're hoping that that planning is going to be enough.
0:28:44 > 0:28:46'We hope that the forecast has got it right.
0:28:46 > 0:28:48'And it sounds pretty awful,'
0:28:48 > 0:28:49but we'd kind of be quite grateful
0:28:49 > 0:28:52if it went past us and went over somebody else.
0:28:52 > 0:28:55Everybody breathes a sigh of relief and goes home
0:28:55 > 0:28:57and sleeps a nice quiet, comfortable night.
0:29:00 > 0:29:02Holy crap!
0:29:02 > 0:29:06Perhaps I won't go just at this moment in time.
0:29:06 > 0:29:09The wind speeds are starting to increase,
0:29:09 > 0:29:13the heavy rain that was predicted has arrived.
0:29:13 > 0:29:14Is it as bad as it looks?
0:29:14 > 0:29:16Nearly picked me up.
0:29:16 > 0:29:17As forecast!
0:29:17 > 0:29:18HE CHUCKLES
0:29:21 > 0:29:25On road, all emergency and breakdown services are on high alert.
0:29:29 > 0:29:31You've not picked a good day for it, have you?
0:29:35 > 0:29:40Nick Evers is the AA patrol man of the year.
0:29:40 > 0:29:42The great thing about our job is the fact
0:29:42 > 0:29:44that everybody's pleased to see you.
0:29:44 > 0:29:47Doesn't matter who they are, what they're doing,
0:29:47 > 0:29:50when you turn up, the smile normally appears.
0:29:58 > 0:29:59When these trucks come past,
0:29:59 > 0:30:02it's like somebody's throwing a bucket of water at you.
0:30:05 > 0:30:07I don't think this is going to work, is it?
0:30:09 > 0:30:12Ooo! Ooo!
0:30:12 > 0:30:14What happened?
0:30:14 > 0:30:17Coming down, got a flat tyre.
0:30:17 > 0:30:24And I've got a spare tyre, but no tools in the back to do it.
0:30:26 > 0:30:30And he's got the job now, lying on the wet floor and everything.
0:30:32 > 0:30:34They're real heroes, aren't they, really?
0:30:34 > 0:30:38Coming rescuing, weather's like this and...
0:30:38 > 0:30:41Breaking down is a very stressful thing, especially on a motorway.
0:30:41 > 0:30:43It's a really frightening place to be.
0:30:43 > 0:30:45As long as I know I can get the car fixed, it's great.
0:30:45 > 0:30:48You know, you can have a little laugh and a joke
0:30:48 > 0:30:50and just lighten people's spirits.
0:30:50 > 0:30:52But you need a sense of humour.
0:30:52 > 0:30:56You have to. The things we see, you need a sense of humour.
0:31:01 > 0:31:05At Junction 7, the winds are already gusting at 50 miles an hour.
0:31:14 > 0:31:15LAUGHTER
0:31:15 > 0:31:17Ooo!
0:31:21 > 0:31:24Ha! It's crazy, this is.
0:31:30 > 0:31:34In the control room, the high winds have brought a deluge of calls
0:31:34 > 0:31:37from the motoring public and officers on patrol.
0:31:38 > 0:31:40Two RTCs, junctions 11 to 10, over.
0:31:40 > 0:31:44Seems like the informant has said a long object
0:31:44 > 0:31:46has hit his vehicle which came off another vehicle
0:31:46 > 0:31:48as it was passing and broken his windscreen.
0:31:48 > 0:31:52Apparently, a tree has fallen onto an LGV.
0:31:52 > 0:31:57He says it's fallen across the hard shoulder, into the first lane.
0:31:57 > 0:31:59I can't see a tree.
0:31:59 > 0:32:01The wind's just moving the camera.
0:32:01 > 0:32:03So when the wind picks up, it just blows it about
0:32:03 > 0:32:05and we get a bit of a wobbly picture.
0:32:05 > 0:32:09If you look at it for too long, you're going to go all dizzy.
0:32:09 > 0:32:12Oscar Sierra 21, Code 6 received.
0:32:12 > 0:32:14DISPATCHER: "Do something about this tree,
0:32:14 > 0:32:17"otherwise we might need some help if they can't do it."
0:32:17 > 0:32:20They're en route to you now.
0:32:23 > 0:32:25Adam Fields is the youngest manager
0:32:25 > 0:32:27in the West Midlands motorway maintenance team,
0:32:27 > 0:32:29and it's his first winter in charge.
0:32:31 > 0:32:34The incident we're going to, there's only one lane running
0:32:34 > 0:32:38and it's 4:30, it's quite a busy time.
0:32:38 > 0:32:42They're going to be late for tea, I think, a lot of these.
0:32:42 > 0:32:46They're probably a bit pissed off that we're using the hard shoulder
0:32:46 > 0:32:50because we don't have blue lights on our vehicles to get to incidents,
0:32:50 > 0:32:52we have yellow lights.
0:32:52 > 0:32:55And of course, you see yellow lights, people might think
0:32:55 > 0:32:59we're just a recovery firm and trying to, er...cheat.
0:33:03 > 0:33:05Looks as though there's a car involved as well, doesn't it?
0:33:05 > 0:33:08So I'm just hoping they're not injured, to be honest.
0:33:19 > 0:33:22The tree had fallen over into the slow lane,
0:33:22 > 0:33:24so this truck was quite ahead of me.
0:33:24 > 0:33:27So he swerved from the slow lane into the middle,
0:33:27 > 0:33:29into the fast lane to avoid the tree.
0:33:29 > 0:33:31I could see that I was going to hit the back of the truck,
0:33:31 > 0:33:33so I had to turn slightly, only it was too late
0:33:33 > 0:33:37and I clipped the back of it and game over.
0:33:37 > 0:33:41That's what I thought, you know, if I lose him, oh, I would..
0:33:41 > 0:33:43You wouldn't lose me.
0:33:47 > 0:33:49With rush-hour traffic building,
0:33:49 > 0:33:52Adam needs to call out the team of stand-by tree surgeons
0:33:52 > 0:33:53to clear the carriageway.
0:33:55 > 0:33:58The two furthest out would definitely need to come down
0:33:58 > 0:34:02and I think these other trees may need to be assessed
0:34:02 > 0:34:04so that if the poor weather continues,
0:34:04 > 0:34:08we don't have the same situation in an hour's time, really.
0:34:08 > 0:34:11So we're just waiting for the lads to come with the chain saws
0:34:11 > 0:34:13and hope to get this bit of branch down now.
0:34:13 > 0:34:16I don't like the way that's still swinging.
0:34:16 > 0:34:18They're trying to get to us, but they can't
0:34:18 > 0:34:21because the traffic's backlogged, so they can't get through.
0:34:21 > 0:34:25We just take the rough with the smooth, simple as that, you know.
0:34:25 > 0:34:27Like every day, one thing or another.
0:34:27 > 0:34:29HE LAUGHS
0:34:31 > 0:34:33In the regional control centre,
0:34:33 > 0:34:35they're dealing with the fallout from the storms.
0:34:37 > 0:34:39We're at the peak time of the rush-hour now.
0:34:39 > 0:34:43We've got 23 kilometres of congestion on the M6.
0:34:43 > 0:34:46We've only got one lane running.
0:34:46 > 0:34:49We're still waiting for the tree surgeon to arrive.
0:34:49 > 0:34:53This is quite substantial congestion now.
0:34:55 > 0:34:57How far back from this box is it?
0:34:58 > 0:35:01Thank you very much. We'll get someone to look at that.
0:35:01 > 0:35:03Got no cameras, got no crews.
0:35:03 > 0:35:06We have had multiple reports of trees falling.
0:35:08 > 0:35:12OK, they've got five trees blocking all lanes.
0:35:12 > 0:35:16They need you to stop the traffic so they can retrieve the trees, over.
0:35:16 > 0:35:1860-foot conifers, over.
0:35:18 > 0:35:20It's amazing what the weather can throw at you.
0:35:20 > 0:35:23The last thing I was expecting today
0:35:23 > 0:35:26was 60-foot conifers across the carriageway.
0:35:26 > 0:35:28HE EXHALES
0:35:32 > 0:35:36All right, mate. The tree cutters have just got on site at this first one.
0:35:36 > 0:35:39Where Ade and Shaggy is, chaos, mate.
0:35:39 > 0:35:42Trees are falling down left, right and centre.
0:35:42 > 0:35:46He thinks it might be best to close Junction 15, to be honest.
0:35:47 > 0:35:50But will we be allowed to close the motorway at 6:00pm?
0:35:50 > 0:35:52I'm not sure, to be honest.
0:35:52 > 0:35:56I'm a bit more concerned about them. It's a bit dangerous.
0:35:56 > 0:35:58OK, mate.
0:35:58 > 0:36:02Why do you worry about your workers so much and their safety?
0:36:02 > 0:36:07Because we had two workers run over just over a year ago,
0:36:07 > 0:36:10Rob and Gordon, which wasn't very nice.
0:36:10 > 0:36:14We don't want that to happen again, so...
0:36:14 > 0:36:18Now we've got to think, are we best off closing the motorway
0:36:18 > 0:36:23at Junction 15, obviously when we've spoken to everybody concerned.
0:36:25 > 0:36:27Any decision to close the motorway
0:36:27 > 0:36:30has to come from the Highways Agency.
0:36:30 > 0:36:33Tonight, team manager Nina is on duty.
0:36:33 > 0:36:36- I've just been talking to James, he's in conference with Staffs.- Yeah.
0:36:36 > 0:36:39Are we going for a total closure at 15?
0:36:39 > 0:36:40Not at the moment.
0:36:40 > 0:36:42He's getting he idea that we...
0:36:42 > 0:36:46I haven't said a total closure at 15.
0:36:46 > 0:36:50What I've agreed is if our crew are in a position
0:36:50 > 0:36:53to move the trees to the hard shoulder from the live lane,
0:36:53 > 0:36:56they will do that to clear the obstruction from the carriageway.
0:36:56 > 0:36:57It is contracted, isn't it?
0:36:57 > 0:36:59It is, but it's not in all the lanes.
0:36:59 > 0:37:01I'm reluctant to close the motorway.
0:37:01 > 0:37:02And we also can't confirm
0:37:02 > 0:37:05that the diversion routes are clear of flooding and trees,
0:37:05 > 0:37:08- so it's a no-win situation, really. - Exactly.
0:37:08 > 0:37:11- If I can keep the motorway open, I will.- OK. Did you hear that?
0:37:13 > 0:37:15HORN BLARES
0:37:19 > 0:37:22Adam is still on his way to the scene of the fallen conifers,
0:37:22 > 0:37:24but has had to stop on the hard shoulder.
0:37:26 > 0:37:29I am stuck behind you, mate.
0:37:29 > 0:37:33Oh, you're joking! The roof's blowing off?
0:37:33 > 0:37:35OK, mate, cheers for that.
0:37:35 > 0:37:37What?!
0:37:37 > 0:37:41You know Keele Services that we drove past?
0:37:41 > 0:37:45There's rumours now that the roof's blowing off.
0:37:45 > 0:37:47HORN BLARES
0:37:47 > 0:37:50Got to rely on people moving out of the way for us,
0:37:50 > 0:37:53which I don't know if they will do, to be honest.
0:37:55 > 0:37:58Don't go back! Whoa!
0:38:04 > 0:38:09On the hard shoulder, Adam spots the first of the six fallen trees.
0:38:10 > 0:38:13That's like something out of Jurassic Park, in't it, that?
0:38:17 > 0:38:20This one here, that's on the entrance to the services.
0:38:25 > 0:38:28- You all right, mate?- Yeah. - You sure?- Yeah.
0:38:32 > 0:38:35- Is it a relief to see them?- Yeah!
0:38:35 > 0:38:40Yeah. Like, my job is just trying to coordinate the guys on the roads.
0:38:40 > 0:38:43So my job's a lot easier than what their job is.
0:38:45 > 0:38:46I always hope they're all right.
0:38:49 > 0:38:51Five tree surgeons and Adam's team
0:38:51 > 0:38:55deal with the worst case of fallen trees on the M6 in a decade.
0:38:55 > 0:39:00These guys, they generally go to traffic accidents every other day,
0:39:00 > 0:39:05but something like this is quite rare, to be honest.
0:39:07 > 0:39:09It looks a bit like Jurassic Park, doesn't it?
0:39:09 > 0:39:11One of the dinosaurs is here(!)
0:39:11 > 0:39:13You poor old fossil!
0:39:13 > 0:39:16It must be nice to be loved.
0:39:17 > 0:39:19Five minutes and we'll be done.
0:39:35 > 0:39:37I'm surprised that the incidents on the M6
0:39:37 > 0:39:39haven't made it to the national news.
0:39:39 > 0:39:42But it shows how much is going on today.
0:39:42 > 0:39:45Shows how many incidents are going on around the country.
0:39:46 > 0:39:50After six hours of gale-force winds, the storm finally passes
0:39:50 > 0:39:53and it's the end of a long shift.
0:39:53 > 0:39:57Good night. See you tomorrow.
0:39:57 > 0:39:59Good night!
0:40:01 > 0:40:03What's it looking like out there?
0:40:03 > 0:40:04Nice and calm now.
0:40:06 > 0:40:07Have a good night.
0:40:21 > 0:40:24In the middle of the night, the wind was howling.
0:40:24 > 0:40:26I think it's blown over now. The sky is blue.
0:40:26 > 0:40:27It's better than yesterday.
0:40:28 > 0:40:32Just had to include this little bit of the 54, it's on our patrol route.
0:40:32 > 0:40:35Makes a change from looking at concrete all the time.
0:40:35 > 0:40:37- We tend to get...- A few escapees!
0:40:37 > 0:40:39A few escapees onto the motorway.
0:40:39 > 0:40:44I must admit, some of the funniest times we've had is chasing lambs.
0:40:44 > 0:40:46- And deer.- And deer.
0:40:46 > 0:40:49And ducks. And dogs.
0:40:49 > 0:40:54Oh, yeah. A few traffic officers have ended up with an extra pet.
0:40:54 > 0:40:57The one I took home dominates the middle of the bed most nights.
0:40:57 > 0:40:59Bless him!
0:41:01 > 0:41:03A big, dim ginger cat.
0:41:03 > 0:41:08Whenever we work together and we get a call for an injured animal, we...
0:41:08 > 0:41:09That's when we're really worried.
0:41:09 > 0:41:11Yeah. In trepidation.
0:41:16 > 0:41:17An average of 30 animals a month
0:41:17 > 0:41:20stray onto the M6 and surrounding roads.
0:41:20 > 0:41:23Is this an animal, or is this, like...?
0:41:23 > 0:41:26- What the hell is that? - LAUGHTER
0:41:26 > 0:41:28It's got a nose.
0:41:28 > 0:41:31- What the hell is it? - I don't know what it is.
0:41:32 > 0:41:34Oh, a badger.
0:41:34 > 0:41:37It's a badger, by the looks of it.
0:41:37 > 0:41:39Well, what's left of it, anyway.
0:41:39 > 0:41:41But, er...badgers have got a thing for...
0:41:41 > 0:41:45I know that it's flat and that, but we've had a few problems
0:41:45 > 0:41:47- with them exploding in people's faces, haven't we?- Yeah.
0:41:47 > 0:41:50Their bodies actually explode and go in people's faces,
0:41:50 > 0:41:52so we have to wear all this suit.
0:41:52 > 0:41:54But there's not much left of that badger,
0:41:54 > 0:41:57so I don't think we need to be suited up, really, for that.
0:41:57 > 0:42:00I'll put my eye glasses on just in case it goes in my face.
0:42:00 > 0:42:03We have all the nice jobs, don't we?
0:42:03 > 0:42:05- It's got to be done. - The smell varies but...
0:42:05 > 0:42:06The smell does vary!
0:42:06 > 0:42:09Yeah, it depends if it's a hot day or cold,
0:42:09 > 0:42:11but you just get used to it.
0:42:11 > 0:42:14Each season brings different types of animals
0:42:14 > 0:42:17which Lee and Wayne have to deal with.
0:42:17 > 0:42:23It can be deer, foxes, badgers, cats...
0:42:23 > 0:42:27- Could be even horses, can't it?- Yeah.
0:42:27 > 0:42:30Sheep or anything like that. Anything, any livestock, really.
0:42:30 > 0:42:33- Normally, nine out of ten, they're dead, aren't they?- Yeah.
0:42:35 > 0:42:38Did you like my way of picking up that badger?
0:42:41 > 0:42:43Do you like animals?
0:42:45 > 0:42:47- Yeah.- Yeah. Some taste really nice.
0:42:47 > 0:42:49Not too bad at all.
0:42:49 > 0:42:52I've actually got a fear of a certain animal.
0:42:52 > 0:42:54You have, haven't you? Chicken.
0:42:54 > 0:42:57Chickens. Chickens are like the bird of Satan.
0:42:57 > 0:43:00- You're scared of chickens. - Chickens are evil.
0:43:03 > 0:43:08I think the one thing that I dread above all else,
0:43:08 > 0:43:12is if ever I'm told to go to an accident that involves
0:43:12 > 0:43:15a sheep wagon or something like that.
0:43:15 > 0:43:18Oh, right, yeah, carrying livestock.
0:43:18 > 0:43:23Oh, a livestock wagon. I will need therapy.
0:43:23 > 0:43:27I told you about that story about the one that I went to recently
0:43:27 > 0:43:30and it was a St Bernard. It was like trying to move a donkey.
0:43:30 > 0:43:32It was massive.
0:43:34 > 0:43:38- Had he got an owner? - Not on the motorway.
0:43:38 > 0:43:40Did they manage to trace them?
0:43:40 > 0:43:42- I think they did. - Oh, thank goodness for that.
0:43:42 > 0:43:46It's not something that would go missing without you noticing,
0:43:46 > 0:43:50- is it, really, a St Bernard? - You'd miss it, I think.- Yeah.
0:43:54 > 0:43:57Yeah, can you just confirm the location of this dog?
0:43:57 > 0:44:00'We were given 2-0-9 over 5 northbound.
0:44:00 > 0:44:05'Right by lamp column, 5-7-2-9-6.'
0:44:10 > 0:44:12Greyhound.
0:44:12 > 0:44:15It hasn't got a tag, which is a bit strange,
0:44:15 > 0:44:18but we'll go back to the yard and get the chipping device,
0:44:18 > 0:44:20check to see if it's chipped.
0:44:20 > 0:44:22I wouldn't be surprised if it's
0:44:22 > 0:44:24either come from the houses over there
0:44:24 > 0:44:27or the houses down here, and jumped over the barrier.
0:44:27 > 0:44:29Yeah, it's a shame, really.
0:44:29 > 0:44:32I'm going to have to get his legs, aren't I?
0:44:32 > 0:44:34Hang on, save the bag open.
0:44:39 > 0:44:42Badgers and stuff are just day to day, but dogs...
0:44:42 > 0:44:45- I think this is the first dog I've had in a few months, this is.- Yeah.
0:44:45 > 0:44:47They like to bury them nowadays.
0:44:47 > 0:44:50We've had a couple once make ashes and stuff, but...
0:44:50 > 0:44:53It's a family pet, though, innit?
0:44:53 > 0:44:55Yeah.
0:44:55 > 0:44:58At the end of the day, it's part of the family so...
0:44:58 > 0:45:00Every domestic and wild animal
0:45:00 > 0:45:03is stored at the nearest maintenance depot.
0:45:05 > 0:45:08You have to log everything down on a list
0:45:08 > 0:45:11and this is the... Oh, my God. This is the freezer,
0:45:11 > 0:45:14but not the freezer you really want to get your beefburgers out of.
0:45:14 > 0:45:16All the animals, if they're not collected,
0:45:16 > 0:45:18if the dogs aren't collected,
0:45:18 > 0:45:22they go to be incinerated which is...the safest way, or whatever.
0:45:22 > 0:45:25Plus, it keeps them kind of fresh.
0:45:25 > 0:45:27- Stops them decomposing, yeah. - Decomposing, yeah.
0:45:27 > 0:45:31But actually every dog that we pick up has to be scanned
0:45:31 > 0:45:34just in case we can locate the owner.
0:45:34 > 0:45:36No tag found.
0:45:36 > 0:45:38Yeah.
0:45:38 > 0:45:40Aw.
0:45:42 > 0:45:46Back in the freezer you go, Luke. As he's got no name,
0:45:46 > 0:45:48- we're going to call him Luke, aren't we?- Yeah.
0:45:48 > 0:45:51- This is Luke.- Goodbye, Luke.
0:45:53 > 0:45:55When I first started on here, we took -
0:45:55 > 0:45:58it was a Springer spaniel - round to the guy's house,
0:45:58 > 0:46:00he wanted to see it there and then, like,
0:46:00 > 0:46:03but luckily that dog wasn't actually in a bad mess.
0:46:03 > 0:46:06But he kept hold of it and I think he buried the dog with the family,
0:46:06 > 0:46:09because it was a proper family's pet...
0:46:09 > 0:46:12He nearly started crying, the bloke did,
0:46:12 > 0:46:14he was quite upset. He really...
0:46:14 > 0:46:17You do get a bit involved and a bit wrapped up with it.
0:46:17 > 0:46:19Yeah, course you do, yeah.
0:46:22 > 0:46:24Food?
0:46:24 > 0:46:26Definitely.
0:46:26 > 0:46:28I'm a man who likes my food.
0:46:28 > 0:46:29Oh!
0:46:29 > 0:46:33Oh, you've got to look at this. You've got to look at this.
0:46:33 > 0:46:37Look at this, what his missus has done for him. Eh?
0:46:37 > 0:46:40Aw, look at that.
0:46:40 > 0:46:42What does that say?
0:46:44 > 0:46:46- Yeah, look at that.- Aww...
0:46:46 > 0:46:48See what I've got in mine?
0:46:48 > 0:46:51Probably a death letter or something.
0:46:51 > 0:46:53- A badger.- Badger!
0:46:53 > 0:46:56THEY LAUGH
0:46:56 > 0:46:59Aw, that's so sweet for you, that is.
0:46:59 > 0:47:00Do you know what?
0:47:00 > 0:47:03- That's touching, that is, that's proper touching.- Yeah.
0:47:03 > 0:47:05Look at the state of that.
0:47:05 > 0:47:08Now look at yours, look at the sandwich difference here.
0:47:08 > 0:47:12I've got cheese on this one, he's got proper ham, egg.
0:47:12 > 0:47:14- Let's have a look.- Look at that. Look at the difference.
0:47:14 > 0:47:17- Hold it up again. - Mine's right scabby.
0:47:17 > 0:47:19I'd be happy with a bit of mould on it,
0:47:19 > 0:47:21just give it a bit more flavour, you know!
0:47:28 > 0:47:32Hurricane-force storms brought chaos to the road and rail network.
0:47:32 > 0:47:35Severe flood warnings remain in place in southwest
0:47:35 > 0:47:37and southeast England, with a warning that a month's rain
0:47:37 > 0:47:40will fall in the next few days.
0:47:40 > 0:47:44Despite the Highways Agency's preparations for ice and snow,
0:47:44 > 0:47:47it's the wind and rain that's causing the serious issues
0:47:47 > 0:47:51in what is the wettest winter in nearly 250 years.
0:47:54 > 0:47:58Surface rainwater on the motorway is a serious issue for motorists.
0:47:58 > 0:48:00Well, if we don't clear the water off,
0:48:00 > 0:48:02it can end up on the main carriageway.
0:48:02 > 0:48:06If you look behind you, it's partly on the slip road.
0:48:06 > 0:48:08We're going to try and get rid of that as well now.
0:48:08 > 0:48:13When a car travelling at speed hits excess water on the carriageway,
0:48:13 > 0:48:18the wheels can lose traction, making the car impossible to control.
0:48:19 > 0:48:21This is known as aquaplaning.
0:48:21 > 0:48:24Road traffic accident between four and...
0:48:24 > 0:48:27- Yeah, central reservation. - She's on the hard shoulder.
0:48:27 > 0:48:29Does she need an ambulance?
0:48:29 > 0:48:32The weather is chaos. We're not telling people not to travel,
0:48:32 > 0:48:36we're just saying if you need to travel, be prepared, be aware.
0:48:36 > 0:48:38It's out of everybody's control.
0:48:38 > 0:48:40What's the weather like out?
0:48:40 > 0:48:42Due to get some more wet coming through shortly.
0:48:42 > 0:48:45About 7 or 8 o'clock, there's supposed to be another front
0:48:45 > 0:48:48of wet dropping on us through till about 9 o'clock so...
0:48:48 > 0:48:50- Right.- And quite heavy.
0:48:53 > 0:48:55Andy, what's going on, sir?
0:48:55 > 0:48:58Martin Studt is one of the original band of traffic officers
0:48:58 > 0:49:03employed in 2003 after the White Friday snow storm.
0:49:03 > 0:49:05And how would you describe yourself in that photo?
0:49:05 > 0:49:07Fatter.
0:49:07 > 0:49:11It was an exciting day for us all to come and join,
0:49:11 > 0:49:15but it was the unknown. We didn't know what the job was
0:49:15 > 0:49:18and we didn't know what we were undertaking.
0:49:18 > 0:49:21A decade on, and Martin knows the reputational damage
0:49:21 > 0:49:22that bad weather can cause.
0:49:22 > 0:49:25I think there's constant pressure.
0:49:25 > 0:49:28Each incident throws up, you know, media interest.
0:49:28 > 0:49:32With heavy rainfall and poor driving conditions,
0:49:32 > 0:49:33that immediately escalates,
0:49:33 > 0:49:38and it's about using the last ten years to learn
0:49:38 > 0:49:42what solutions we can come up with that are outside the box, really.
0:49:44 > 0:49:48Reports of an RTC, a vehicle spun out of control sideways.
0:49:48 > 0:49:51The storms that have flooded thousands of homes and roads
0:49:51 > 0:49:54in the south of England have reached the West Midlands.
0:49:54 > 0:49:57The wind's picked up really badly.
0:49:57 > 0:50:00The rains are coming down heavier again.
0:50:00 > 0:50:03We've got a vehicle gone off road on the M54.
0:50:03 > 0:50:08We've got an accident involving an LGV and a car, by the looks of it.
0:50:08 > 0:50:12I'm just sorting the signals out at the moment.
0:50:12 > 0:50:14Now, with the region on high alert,
0:50:14 > 0:50:16the control centre
0:50:16 > 0:50:19and on-road traffic officers are running at full capacity.
0:50:19 > 0:50:23Rain, high winds, RTCs, breakdowns,
0:50:23 > 0:50:27RTCs and breakdowns in the roadworks, the M50's flooded,
0:50:27 > 0:50:30the M54, we've had vehicles left the carriageway.
0:50:30 > 0:50:32You name it, it's happened.
0:50:33 > 0:50:35The town of Worcester has flooded,
0:50:35 > 0:50:40and 65mph gusting winds have closed the two Severn bridges.
0:50:40 > 0:50:43The M50 is the last remaining route into South Wales.
0:50:43 > 0:50:46I know it looks really bad where you are,
0:50:46 > 0:50:49but down there they've closed both the bridges
0:50:49 > 0:50:51because they're having it really bad.
0:50:51 > 0:50:56And with 3 being a bell junction, if we divert off at 3,
0:50:56 > 0:51:00then I don't know if we're causing more harm than good.
0:51:00 > 0:51:02How bad is the flooding there?
0:51:02 > 0:51:07Fairly serious, but it's the only arterial route
0:51:07 > 0:51:11that we've got at the moment so it's key for the public,
0:51:11 > 0:51:15emergency services, hospitals, etc, that we keep that road open.
0:51:15 > 0:51:18Well, that's like a little bit of a river.
0:51:18 > 0:51:21With ten years' experience in the job,
0:51:21 > 0:51:26Highways Agency team manager Sue Hine arrives at the M50 flooding.
0:51:26 > 0:51:29So this is what we're up against.
0:51:29 > 0:51:31It's coming out at all angles,
0:51:31 > 0:51:34and you can see it's eroding the actual ground away.
0:51:34 > 0:51:36We're going up to junction 3,
0:51:36 > 0:51:39that's flowing like a river across the motorway
0:51:39 > 0:51:41and as you can see across here,
0:51:41 > 0:51:43lane 2 is completely taken up by the flood there,
0:51:43 > 0:51:47bit of a landslip further along as well, which we need to deal with.
0:51:47 > 0:51:50Watch yourself, you're going to get soaked again.
0:51:50 > 0:51:52SHE SHRIEKS
0:51:54 > 0:51:56Nothing like a shower at this time of night(!)
0:51:56 > 0:51:59Thank you very much, whoever that was.
0:51:59 > 0:52:01It's a good job I don't care.
0:52:01 > 0:52:03SHE LAUGHS
0:52:03 > 0:52:05All right, let me get back to you.
0:52:05 > 0:52:08- Really need to avoid closing.- Bye.
0:52:08 > 0:52:11I just told her if we close this then we can't guarantee
0:52:11 > 0:52:14that the traffic has got anywhere to go
0:52:14 > 0:52:16and if it does have somewhere to go,
0:52:16 > 0:52:18then it's not going to end up in a worse situation as well.
0:52:18 > 0:52:20- We keep it open, then.- Yeah.
0:52:20 > 0:52:23I'm waiting for the chief inspector to get back to me.
0:52:23 > 0:52:26There's a multitude of jobs going on
0:52:26 > 0:52:28on the whole of the West Midlands network
0:52:28 > 0:52:31and country-wide for the Highways Agency.
0:52:31 > 0:52:33We're fighting an immense battle.
0:52:33 > 0:52:36What's going to happen if it doesn't work?
0:52:36 > 0:52:38Um... Plan Z.
0:52:38 > 0:52:41I think we've worked through A, B, C, D, E, F
0:52:41 > 0:52:45and most of the alphabet at the moment.
0:52:45 > 0:52:47We have a fallback plan. PHONE RINGS
0:52:47 > 0:52:49It's a first for me in ten years.
0:52:49 > 0:52:51Hello, Martin speaking.
0:52:51 > 0:52:53I shall be very, very brief.
0:52:53 > 0:52:56We've invoked the Army for the M50.
0:52:56 > 0:53:00That's about to go out probably in the next 20 minutes,
0:53:00 > 0:53:03realistically, in a convoy, but hopefully that will keep us open.
0:53:03 > 0:53:06Martin's decision to call in the Army
0:53:06 > 0:53:09is unprecedented in the history of the Highways Agency.
0:53:09 > 0:53:10I've never known it before,
0:53:10 > 0:53:14but then I don't think we've had weather quite as bad as this before.
0:53:17 > 0:53:2040 soldiers arrive to help shovel the silt
0:53:20 > 0:53:22and clear the surface water.
0:53:22 > 0:53:25Anybody got a spare couple of pairs of hands
0:53:25 > 0:53:28can help me put some cones out, please.
0:53:28 > 0:53:33Down the line, please, probably about ten metres apart.
0:53:33 > 0:53:36There you go, somebody, if you follow him down.
0:53:36 > 0:53:39Straight down the line, straight down the middle, please.
0:53:39 > 0:53:44Can you start there and...? No, here. Yeah. Follow him down.
0:53:44 > 0:53:46I have four children, I know how to boss.
0:53:48 > 0:53:52As another deluge of rain falls, the Army stack 1,500 sandbags
0:53:52 > 0:53:55as quickly as possible to contain the floodwater.
0:53:55 > 0:53:58It's pouring down with rain again, as you can see,
0:53:58 > 0:54:01and unfortunately not all of it's being stopped.
0:54:01 > 0:54:04But what we're going to do is go onto the next one
0:54:04 > 0:54:06and we'll just come back to this if necessary
0:54:06 > 0:54:08and see if we can do anything else for it
0:54:08 > 0:54:10because the main priority is,
0:54:10 > 0:54:13we've got to keep the M50 open so we'll just keep working.
0:54:13 > 0:54:17North of Stafford on the southbound.
0:54:17 > 0:54:18PHONE RINGS
0:54:18 > 0:54:21All right, cheers. Cheers, mate. Thank you, bye.
0:54:21 > 0:54:23Hello, Martin speaking.
0:54:25 > 0:54:27All right, give us about an hour
0:54:27 > 0:54:30and maybe the world will have calmed down.
0:54:32 > 0:54:35- How are you doing? - I'm having a great evening(!)
0:54:35 > 0:54:39See if they can get the Army to contain it with sandbags
0:54:39 > 0:54:41and we'll just monitor it for a bit.
0:54:41 > 0:54:44- What would it mean if you had to shut that motorway?- Disaster.
0:54:44 > 0:54:48Which we're trying to avoid, so quite a lot of impact
0:54:48 > 0:54:50on a huge amount of people,
0:54:50 > 0:54:54so the priority is obviously to try and keep it open.
0:54:57 > 0:55:00Excellent job, boys, well done.
0:55:01 > 0:55:03At the second site, eight soldiers
0:55:03 > 0:55:06and sergeants from the Central Motorway Police Group
0:55:06 > 0:55:08join the shovelling operation.
0:55:08 > 0:55:11Nice to see you're putting your back into it, Sarge.
0:55:11 > 0:55:13Ooh! Hello, boys.
0:55:13 > 0:55:15We're here for shovelling.
0:55:15 > 0:55:18THEY LAUGH
0:55:18 > 0:55:20It's stopped raining, my hair's starting to dry out.
0:55:23 > 0:55:25We are winning. We are winning.
0:55:25 > 0:55:27How's it looking down the bottom end?
0:55:27 > 0:55:29- Done. Fixed.- Brilliant.
0:55:29 > 0:55:32Four hours since the Army arrived, the storm has passed
0:55:32 > 0:55:36and the surface water has been cleared from the carriageway.
0:55:36 > 0:55:38Guys, you can go back to your wagons.
0:55:38 > 0:55:42Thanks ever so much for your help. Very much appreciated.
0:55:42 > 0:55:43Nature is nature, isn't it?
0:55:43 > 0:55:46You can't hold back the force of nature, it's as simple as that.
0:55:46 > 0:55:48You can just do what you can do,
0:55:48 > 0:55:52which is what we've done tonight, quite successfully, actually.
0:55:52 > 0:55:55Thanks very much for your help up there, cheers.
0:55:55 > 0:55:56Yay.
0:55:56 > 0:55:58Done and dusted.
0:55:58 > 0:56:00I've got a sore throat.
0:56:02 > 0:56:04It's something if Karen's sick of talking.
0:56:04 > 0:56:06This doesn't happen very often.
0:56:08 > 0:56:11We haven't stopped.
0:56:11 > 0:56:13We really have not stopped.
0:56:15 > 0:56:18It's doing the job that's intended
0:56:18 > 0:56:20and in the cold light of day, tomorrow,
0:56:20 > 0:56:23we can see that we've done everything correctly.
0:56:23 > 0:56:25And that, you know, it's nice and tidy,
0:56:25 > 0:56:27it's safe for the public to travel on
0:56:27 > 0:56:30so we'll make a reassessment first thing in the morning.
0:56:30 > 0:56:32So are you going to be able to keep the motorway open?
0:56:32 > 0:56:34Absolutely, yeah.
0:56:34 > 0:56:36At all costs.
0:56:46 > 0:56:51This winter, the Highways Agency was well prepared for the snow and ice,
0:56:51 > 0:56:54but for the M6 and its surrounding motorways,
0:56:54 > 0:56:59just 9,000 tonnes of its winter salt stocks were used,
0:56:59 > 0:57:00a record low.
0:57:01 > 0:57:04Yeah, believe it or not, there is actually a gully
0:57:04 > 0:57:06somewhere underneath here.
0:57:06 > 0:57:08Instead, it's been the wind and rain
0:57:08 > 0:57:11that's caused the toughest challenge for the Highways Agency.
0:57:11 > 0:57:13For me, winter's all about making sure that we keep
0:57:13 > 0:57:16all of our carriageways free from snow and ice.
0:57:16 > 0:57:19Then, all of a sudden, the thing that did catch us out
0:57:19 > 0:57:22was February and the high winds and the REALLY heavy rain.
0:57:22 > 0:57:26Bit of chaos and then we're back to business as usual with winter,
0:57:26 > 0:57:28spending a fortune spreading salt,
0:57:28 > 0:57:32and waiting for the next significant severe weather event to occur.
0:57:33 > 0:57:34It's not bad, not bad.
0:57:34 > 0:57:37It's turned out quite nice, it's warming up a little bit.
0:57:37 > 0:57:40Well, that's our route done two times.
0:57:40 > 0:57:41Yeah.
0:57:43 > 0:57:47Everybody's behaving today... at the moment.
0:57:48 > 0:57:52But wait a minute, you never know what might happen.
0:57:58 > 0:58:00Whoa, RTC there.
0:58:03 > 0:58:04It's life in the fast lane.
0:58:04 > 0:58:06I've never known that happen before.
0:58:06 > 0:58:09Oh, that doesn't look good. I can see it, mate.
0:58:09 > 0:58:11TYRES SCREECH
0:58:11 > 0:58:12HORN BLARES
0:58:12 > 0:58:14It's a go-fast world...
0:58:14 > 0:58:17We won't keep you too long. They're just filling a pothole in, OK?
0:58:17 > 0:58:20..and we are just stuck right in the middle of it.
0:58:20 > 0:58:23Wait there, we've stopped these for a reason!
0:58:23 > 0:58:25SIREN BLARES