'Spear' bollards leave driver needing treatment

Mike Keegan

November 20, 2006

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A DRIVER needed treatment from paramedics after becoming the latest victim of Manchester's retractable bollards.

Her car was impaled by the telescopic poles on Cross Street in the city centre.

The bollards have caused many accidents and a video showing some of them has been viewed by over 300,000 on the internet.

While the debate over the rights and wrongs of the restrictions goes on, the 30-year-old driver was, according to a witness, "clearly shaken up" by the incident.

Sebastian Matthes, who took the photograph, said: "The lady was clearly shaken up and looked like she didn't know where she was. Paramedics were treating her on the steps of a shop and it was clear that she was very distressed."

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Ambulance Service confirmed that they had attended the scene.

The bollards were introduced in June as traffic calming measures but have since spiked a number of cars - with many being written off.

The M.E.N. has revealed that they are in breach of government safety rules. A Department for Transport leaflet states that bollards should be designed so that they cannot rise up underneath a passing car and council chiefs are now considering modifying them.

Should the bollards be removed? Have your say.

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Mike, Manchester (20/11/2006 at 10:13)

I'm sorry to hear this, but which part of "ONE vehicle may proceed" didn't she understand?

I'm sick of all these people breaking the law making excuses when they clearly only have themselves to blame. In any event, provided she's got fully comprehensive insurance the car will be fixed, even though I think insurance companies (although I despise their morals) would be right to refuse to pay out owing to gross negligence.

Clearly shaken? Then don't illegally drive through the bollards zone and you won't be! And yes, I do think the bollards should stay.

Tom, Manchester (20/11/2006 at 10:14)

Everyone of the 'victims' in the video is trying to pull a fast one by speeding through the bollards after a bus or another authorised vehicle. If you see a retractable bollard you know they are there for a reason (ie; to stop any Tom, Dick or Harry going through). If they weren't for this reason why would they be there!? I'm not saying that having them is right, just saying I have no sympathy for those who get spiked (what makes them think they are above and beyong the restrictions?!)

val, chorlton (20/11/2006 at 10:28)

If her eyesight is so bad that she cannot read the signs, follow the arrows, or see the bollards, perhaps she shouldn't be on the road at all.

Ged Tivey, Manchester (20/11/2006 at 10:36)

Yes the bollards should stay and they should be made harder, stronger and faster. All those driving through deserve to get "spiked". Other people follow rules, why can't they. I cannot believe that because these people keep breaking the law, we are now looking at "modifying" them. If a burglar cuts his hand breaking a window to get in to my house, should I just leave it open next time?

Bill, Stockport (20/11/2006 at 10:38)

It's good to hear that the bollards are doing their job. Articles like this are useful to make clear the consequences of trying to cheat the system.

dave, salford (20/11/2006 at 10:38)

clearly shaken was she? not as shaken as her husband will be when he receives the bill from the council, and the garage where the car was taken to. anybody that chooses to ignore the signs and tailgate/race up begind the bus should have their licences revoked, and charged with dangerous driving(which it is). as much as i'd like to feel sorry for her being injured, i don't. tough luck darling, but next time, use those two things in your head called eyes. they do have a use

paul, manchester (20/11/2006 at 10:43)

If people take a risk at going down a road that is clearly marked as no entry then they deserve everything they get

Commonsense, Manchester (20/11/2006 at 10:51)

Again these sort of drivers need to be made to retake their theory and driving tests.

There is no excuse.

Al Capone, Atherton (20/11/2006 at 10:54)

In Atherton town centre there is a supposedly pedestrianised main street (Market Street). I say supposedly because there is a constant daily procession of cars and vans going down it and the powers that be do nothing about it. If we had bollards like these we could all have a good laugh at those who ignore the rules and get spiked themselves. If Manchester gets rid of them, can we have them please?

Joyce Hargreave, Manchester (20/11/2006 at 11:41)

Yes the bollards should stay. The clearly visible signs surely absolve the council from responsibility to anyone getting spiked. Driving is a skill and there are a lot of unskilled people behind the wheel out there and this is one way of weeding them out.

Pamela, Crumpsall (20/11/2006 at 11:46)

The Bollards are doing a good job. Those who drive over them when not authorised to do so should be made to pay for any damage, and for any medical treatment they or others may need as a result of their recklessness. Lets hope no more get speared, but if they do, then it's their own fault - very soon there may be enough to release a one hour video LOL.

Miss Manchester, Manchester (20/11/2006 at 11:49)

I cannot for the life of me understand these people - I wonder, did it ever occur to her to question why she was the only car on Cross Street? Keep the bollards - in fact put some on the approach to Victoria Station.

professional driver, manchester (20/11/2006 at 12:09)

it's every drivers duty to know the highway code, and what the appropriate signs mean. until i started driving buses, i never noticed how many irresponsible car drivers there are out there. (yes, i know there are a few irresponsible bus drivers too) only an idiot would dice with death to play chicken with a bus (and trust me, there's a few no longer alive wishing they hadn't) road signs are not there to make the side of the road look pretty, they are there telling the driver what they can or can't do (like no times on bus lane sign indicates a 24hour bus lane) and yes, some of the drivers in the video are going a little too fast for a 20mph zone. what would happen if a child had run out behind the bus, or an elderly couple who can't just jump out of the way? best thing the council can do is ban cars from the city centre within the inner city ring road. m ost of these cars don't need to be in town anyway, so they add to the congestion

Dave Smith, Machester (20/11/2006 at 12:17)

They should stay, they are there to do a job which is to stop unwanted traffic from passing, all the drivers are fully aware of the bollards before they try and sneak over them behind another car/bus.

In my eyes they are doing the job they where put there to do.

aj, swinton (20/11/2006 at 12:18)

DAER OH DEAR OH DEAR!!, THE M.E.N ARE HAVING A GO AT THE BOLLARDS......AGAIN!! I AGREE WITH EVERY COMMENT ON HERE THE BOLLARDS SHOULD STAY. WHAT IS THE POINT OF BOLLARD NOT RISING UP UNDER A VEHICLE? HOW ON EARTH ARE THEY GOING TO DO THEIR JOB EFFECTIVELY IF THEY CANT RISE UP ENOUGH TO STOP A CAR!! EVERY SINGLE DRIVER WHO HAS HIT THESE IS A VICTIM OF THEIR OWN STUPIDITY!! HAVING SAID THAT THOUGH THE ONES ON THE VIDEO HAVE MADE IT ONTO THE INTERNET BIG TIME AND ARE STARS ALL OVER THE WORLD!! AND FROM COMMENTS IVE READ ON THOSE SITES THEY ARE MUCH THE SAME AS ON HERE, STATING ITS THE DRIVERS FAULT ETC, THE BOLLARDS SHOULD STAY AND SHOULDNT BE ADJUSTED, THEY ARE WELL SIGNED HAVE STOP N GO LIGHTS ARE IN MY OPINION PERFECTLY SAFE AND LEGAL....HOW ARE THEY SAFE? SIMPLE IF DRIVERS LIKE THE ONES WHO HAVE HIT THEM, HADNT HIT THEM THEY WOULDNT HAVE BEEN INJURED!!! INFACT ON MY NEXT DAY OFF IM TAKIN MY VIDEO CAMERA DOWN THERE AND HANG AROUND TIL SOMEONE HITS THEM ( WE KNOW THIS ISNT THE LAST TIME ) THEN ILL SEND IT TO YOU'VE BEEN FRAMED BAG MYSELF ??250, HEY THESE PEOPLE ARE SILLY ENOUGH TO DO IT ILL BE BRAZEN ENOUGH TO CASH IN ON IT!.

Paul, Manchester (20/11/2006 at 12:21)

Firstly, as everyone else has said, the signs are obvious and unmissable. Secondly, as has also been observed, if you're the only car around, wouldn't that be a BIG clue and make you proceed with caution. And thirdly, if you're so close to the bus that you can't see the bollard rising out the ground, and you're going too fast to stop, then you're too close to the vehicle in front and driving recklessly, especially considering you're in the city centre. Shaken up was she? Awwww my heart bleeds. Maybe she should give up driving because she's obviously rubbish at it.

Ace Riley, manchester (20/11/2006 at 12:47)

Quite a lot of drivers think the law and street direction signs dont affect them? i see people driving down a one way street the wrong way near where i live every day? and i see people turning right from a street where the signs tell you not to turn right? is this yet another law that nobody takes notice of??We need more police on the roads and a zero tolerance for car crime then maybe drivers will start to take these signs serious???

Ian, Bury (20/11/2006 at 12:49)

Driving any motor vehicle demands one's fullest attention, AT ALL TIMES - no excuses, no ifs or buts. Cars can be killing-machines due to even the slightest momentary lapse of concentration. The bollard could have been a pedestrian, only this time the pedestrian was harder. If you choose to ignore, or don't see the signs, then you deserve prosecuting for driving without due care and attention.

Chris, Stockport (20/11/2006 at 12:53)

Where have these people been recently?
Stories about these bollards have travelled the world in the past few weeks.
They should know to avoid them. But as usual it's always the chancers that think they can make it through. I've seen the warning sign, and you can still see it if you're right behind the bus.
The Bollards should stay and keep the city centre car free.

Noel, Eccles (20/11/2006 at 12:57)

One thing that hasn't been mentioned... the bollard only operate between 11am and 7pm. What happens to disabled drivers who enter before 11am and park in one of the designated bays on St. Mary's Gate? Are they then 'imprisoned' in the city centre until 7pm?

laughing boy, Manchester (20/11/2006 at 13:03)

They tried to be clever, they got what they deserved. Keep the bollards and keep showing the video clips they are hilarious!!!!!!

Sue, Salford (20/11/2006 at 13:15)

Of course the bollards should stay - they were put there for a reason.

It is just very worrying about the number of people driving around Manchester city centre who obviously can't read!

Can people who are illiterate hold a driving licence?

Brian, Manchester (20/11/2006 at 13:33)

Totally agree that these bollards should stay, but it would help if the MEN would get its facts correct when reporting stories about them.

The picture of this latest incident clearly shows that the bollard is in the raised position and in front of the car. It appears that the car has been driven into the RAISED bollard, hence the front of the car being damaged, bonnet open, and bollard leaning at an angle. The car has NOT been speared.

Mike S, Manchester (20/11/2006 at 13:35)

Was she the one who blocked Cross Street the other day so that none of the genuine traffic (the shuttle buses etc) could go down the road and caused chaos in rush hour?

She should have to pay for wasting everyone's (ambulance / police and the general public) time

Richard, Bolton (20/11/2006 at 14:24)

Yet again a driver has been "shaken up" by running into the Spear Bollards. So what, these people are obviously unable to see the large illuminated signs telling them that as a private vehicle thay are not allowed along this stretch of Cross St.
Perhaps they should be asked to undertake an eyesight test just to confirm whether they are able to read road signs from an appropriate distance, if they can then we can only assume that they consider themselves to be beyond the law and that's tough. I hope that their insurures do not pay for the damage to their car as this will obviously increase the premiums to the people who can see signs or are just not that selfish.

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