Road ghost sightings

[Dr B]

Why exactly is it described as female? How much detail is seen its "face"?

because that is how it is seen - actually i think ambiguous shapes are easier to identify as female. thats why monks / nuns / etc were common (long dress shape down to the ground).

Why do the witnesses think it is distressed?

because some witnesses saw 'her' hunched over against the wall in a position that suggested it. Not everyone describes it this way - but some have.

The real bother to me is that a fog/gas/dust effect would very rarely look human and on the rare occasions it does it would be unlikely to always look like a girl.

Actually quite the opposite i think - the outline of a female shape (imagine a dress to the floor) is less complex than that for a male.

Another thing is that a misty form would not look solid but people contacting the police about a girl suggests a solid figure is what they see.

with headlight reflection - it does appear solid in parts.

Also those conditions happen in most places and surely on more than that one kilometer section of that road. Why are these sightings not widespread. I think it must be a combination of factors that produce this effect in such a narrow area. Looking for one single cause may be fruitless.

I totally agree - but i would add that no one is suggesting a single cause - we have been discussing possibilities and trying to just play with ideas for plausibility.