‘Smart Motorway’ Roll-Out Suspended
Work on motorways that are missing the customary hard shoulder will be suspended, the government has confirmed. The families of people killed on smart motorways are said to have welcomed a Government decision to pause their rollout over safety concerns (Express). ‘The government’s decision comes in light of a House of Commons Transport Select Committee report, […]
Smart Motorways ‘Follow the Money’
Smart Motorways ‘ ‘Follow the Money[1]’ Why do motorways (as opposed to ‘minor’ roads) have ‘hard shoulders’? Why are refuges required on ‘smart’ motorways? Motorway design has incorporated a safe (or safer) place to stop for decades. Is there any doubt these shelters are required; provide protection, safety, a primary concern for Highways England … […]
020100 APPG for Roadside Rescue and Recovery All Lane Running Inquiry
APPG for Roadside Rescue and Recovery All Lane Running Inquiry ‘The introduction of All Lane Running motorways to the Strategic Road Network comes at a time when roads are getting busier and busier and the risk levels are, as a consequence, increasing for recovery operators. In this context it was, and continues to be, crucial […]
Smart motorways are “too complicated for people to use”
The old story… you make something idiot-proof and … they invent a better idiot? The same day Nottinghamshire Live called on the Government to stop building any more smart motorways until major concerns about their safety are properly addressed, the CEO of Highways England is reported to have told the Commons Transport Select Committee (source […]
Dumb Motorways?
‘The purpose of building a shoulder is that in the event of an emergency or breakdown, a motorist can pull into the shoulder to get out of the flow of traffic and obtain a greater degree of safety‘ – source WikiPedia It follows, in the absence of no other changes, removing the hard-shoulder reduces the […]