i used to drive a road sweeper for a living and the reason they closed it to people whilst it made its
rounds is probably due to the fact that some members of the public are idiots, they see a truck
reversing along a road and think its fine to walk directly behind it or in front of it. As for it sweeping stuff up,
unless you put plenty of water down on the ground as you travel along you create a dust storm behind
your truck even if its raining, as the suction of the machine normally sucks the moisture out of the dust.
Also if you don't put a lot of water down the suction box becomes covered in a layer of mud that eventually
blocks the suction tube, and you don't realise its happened until you turn round and see the trail of dirt that you've left.
I also was there early and knowing it had been raining heavily a few days before me and the missus came prepared with
wellingtons and the knowledge that some of the ground would be muddy.
Thats my rant over and done with.
Sherman