The Department for Transport has told the Daily Mail it will investigate the newspaper’s claims of faulty equipment used on smart motorways.

The paper says it based an undercover reporter in the South Mimms control room, who found that cameras did not work, were misted up or facing the wrong way and software used to close lanes went down several times in six weeks the reporter worked there.

It adds a systems failure during our reporter’s first shift saw staff unable to implement vital lane closures or change mandatory speed limits until more than 30 minutes had passed.

“The Department for Transport last night ordered an inquiry into our staggering revelations” the paper writes, “which will pile pressure on ministers to reinstate the hard shoulder”.

(Picture – Highways News)