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UKAre Smart Motorways fit for purpose? A report finds significant technological failings.
Smart motorways were introduced as a way to ease congestion without the need for widening roads. However, they function without a hard shoulder for drivers in difficulty. Initially, motorists were assured that new technologies would be able to respond to breakdowns and control traffic flow. Unfortunately, the reality has been different. Smart motorways without a hard shoulder have been found to be three times more dangerous than ones where drivers have that option.
Smart motorways have faced criticism due to instances of safety equipment malfunctioning, leaving vehicles stranded in fast-flowing traffic. National Highways, the government agency responsible for maintaining major routes in England, defends smart motorways as the safest roads statistically.
Between June 2022 and February 2024, there were 392 incidents of motorway technology losing power, making it difficult to detect when a vehicle has broken down. The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) flagged problems with the technology used on smart motorways to identify stopped vehicles in live lanes in a safety report.
National Highways argues against reinstating hard shoulders, stating that emergency areas are safer and that one in 20 motorway fatalities occur on hard shoulders.
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The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) found significant failings in a safety report published in December 2022.
1. Instances of safety equipment such as signs and cameras breaking down, making it difficult to detect and respond to vehicles that have broken down.
2. The radar-based technology that identifies stopped vehicles on live lanes was found to be falling short of the performance requirements set by the company.
3. Software failures caused frozen signs and deactivated the stopped vehicle detection system for two hours, preventing the closure of lanes with a red 'X' sign in the presence of hazards.
4. Lack of public confidence leading to and following the Government halting the rollout of new smart motorway schemes.
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National Highways has taken several actions to address safety concerns on smart motorways:
Increasing the number of emergency areas
These areas provide a place of safety for drivers in case of breakdowns or emergencies. They have orange surfacing, are set back from live traffic lanes, and have emergency phones that connect directly to National Highways regional control rooms for assistance. These are installed at intervals to allow a stranded driver a safe refuge away from an active traffic lane.
Delivering education campaigns
National Highways has launched education campaigns to raise awareness among drivers about the safety measures and procedures on smart motorways. These campaigns aim to help drivers understand how to use smart motorways safely and effectively.
Improving the resilience of operational technology systems
National Highways acknowledges the importance of reliable and robust operational technology systems on smart motorways. They are working on improving the resilience of these systems to minimize the occurrence of outages and failures. This includes addressing software failures and ensuring that signs, signals, cameras, and radar are consistently operational.
Closing the gap between perception and safety statistics
National Highways recognizes that there is a gap between how drivers feel about smart motorways and the safety statistics that show they are among the safest roads. They are taking action to bridge this gap by providing accurate information and data to drivers, addressing concerns, and building confidence in the safety of smart motorways.
| Overall, the findings of the report indicate that there are significant safety risks associated with smart motorways, including technology failures, performance issues, and a lack of public confidence. |
Public opinion on smart motorways has been largely negative. Many drivers feel that the benefits do not outweigh the potential risks. A significant number of people have expressed a preference for traditional motorways over smart motorways1.
Given these safety concerns, public confidence in smart motorways has waned. Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, halted plans for more all-lane running (ALR) motorways due to this lack of confidence. The RAC (Royal Automobile Club) has called for the reinstatement of hard shoulders on all smart motorways, a recommendation that should be taken seriously.
