SARS (Southend Arterial Road Sucks)

And not in a good way, either...

Built by the Romans as the via exilis for those citizens unfortunate enough to be expelled from Londinium and forced to live in the badlands. Upgraded by the Danes and Vikings so they could leap from their boats in the morning and be in Odo’s Tavern And Shield-Dancing Club by twilight. Lovingly restored by Essex County Council as the only feasible way to connect the half million people who live along its picturesque route.

Totally unsuitable for purpose. All it takes is one breakdown or minor prang to turn this artery into a capillary. Given the quality of Essex drivership (is there such a word?) minor prangs are common.

Do something about it? The only change in the last ten years has been to convert a roundabout into a pair of disconnected half-roundabouts. That’s right. You can turn left but you can’t turn right. All it does is slow the traffic from 70 to 20 and cause yet more mayhem.

Sigh...