Smart motorways can be dangerous

 

Smart motorways are sections of major roads in England that utilize technology and various operational strategies to manage traffic flow and ease congestion. They were introduced to improve traffic flow and capacity on busy motorways. Here are some key points about smart motorways and the safety concerns associated with them:

What are Smart Motorways?

• Smart motorways use technology to manage traffic flow and reduce congestion.
• There are three main types of smart motorways in England:
  1. All-Lane Running (ALR) Motorway: The hard shoulder is permanently removed, and all lanes are open to traffic.
  2. Controlled Motorway: The hard shoulder is retained, and variable speed limits are enforced using overhead gantries.
  3. Dynamic Hard Shoulder (DHS) Motorway: The hard shoulder is used as a traffic lane during peak periods, with overhead gantries indicating when it's open or closed.

Safety Concerns:

• Critics have raised concerns about the safety of smart motorways, particularly those with the hard shoulder permanently removed.
• Without a hard shoulder, there is limited space for drivers to pull over in case of breakdowns or emergencies.
• Incidents on smart motorways where vehicles are stranded or involved in accidents can pose challenges for emergency services to reach them promptly.
• National Highways' data suggests that the risk of being killed or seriously injured is higher on smart motorways without a hard shoulder compared to those with a hard shoulder.
• Despite safety measures such as radar detection and lane closure systems, there have been instances where crucial safety equipment on smart motorways has failed, leading to concerns about reliability.

Government Response:

• In response to safety concerns, the government announced a pause on the rollout of new stretches of all-lane-running motorways in 2022.
• In 2023, the government canceled plans for new smart motorway schemes and pledged to make existing schemes safer.
• Efforts include increasing the number of emergency refuge areas and investing in technology to enhance safety.
• However, there are no plans to reintroduce the hard shoulder on existing smart motorways.

Overall, while smart motorways aim to improve traffic flow and capacity, concerns about safety persist, particularly regarding the absence of a hard shoulder and the reliability of safety measures. Ongoing efforts are being made to address these concerns and make smart motorways safer for road users.