National Highways apologises for random lane closures on smart motorways

National Highways has apologised after what it calls “unexpected issues” left motorists seeing random lane closure signs on sections of smart motorway in England. The BBC reports problems were reported by drivers on the M6, M1 and A1(M), with “mile upon mile” of lane closure warnings and “unreadable” overhead signs. Speed limits were placed on […]

Three smart motorway safety improvements achieved, but one missed

National Highways has missed its 10-minute response time target for reaching stopped vehicles on a smart motorway by five per cent, as figures show it is taking 10 minutes 29 seconds to support stranded drivers. The Telegraph reports ten minute target was one of four safety requirements implemented by the Government-owned company to boost protection […]

Truss could make motorway speed limits “advisory” and would scrap smart motorways

The person expected to be chosen as the UK’s next Prime Minister says she’s prepared to look at introducing a German-style system motorways with no speed limits, and will get rid of smart motorways because “the experiment hasn’t worked”. At the final hustings in front of Conservative Members before the leadership ballot closes, Liz Truss […]

National Highways enhances safety on M1 and M6 smart motorways

A review of incidents on the M1 and M6 has led to a range of safety measures being undertaken by National Highways, including a promise of stopped vehicle detection being installed by the end of the month. In March 2020, the Secretary of State for Transport published the Smart motorway evidence stocktake and action plan. The […]

M6 upgrade barrier nearing completion

National Highways says a major phase of the £200 million project to upgrade the M6 between Warrington and Wigan is about to be completed. Final work to install a concrete central reservation safety barrier between junction 21a and junction 23 will be marked with a change of traffic management – allowing work to convert the […]

National Highways delivers smart motorway safety upgrade report

The installation of new safety equipment on smart motorways without a permanent hard shoulder will be completed within the next five months, it has been confirmed this week. National Highways said it was on course to upgrade almost 100 safety cameras to enable automatic detection of vehicles that ignore red X lane closure signals by […]

National Highways launches new driving on motorways campaign

National Highways is running a second wave of its driving on motorways campaign as part of its response to the Smart Motorway Stocktake which reviewed safety on the tech-heavy stretches of road. It aims to help increase driver knowledge and confidence when driving on smart motorways. Similar to the first wave, a three-week digital advertising […]

Meera Naran dedicates MBE to eight-year-old son killed in M6 smart motorway crash

A road safety campaigner has dedicated her MBE to her eight-year-old son who was killed in a collision on a smart motorway, after she collected the award from Windsor Castle. Meera Naran, said no one should “ever feel what we had to feel” and vowed to continue highlighting the risks until there were “zero deaths” […]

M27 motorway upgrade enters final stages

Drivers on one of the busiest stretches of motorway in the country are being promised changes this week with a new lane becoming available for traffic and extra safety measures installed, National Highways has announced. National Highways has started lifting traffic cones and barriers on the newly upgraded 15-mile stretch of the M27 between junctions […]

No charges over South Yorkshire smart motorway deaths

Police looking into the deaths of three people on smart motorways in South Yorkshire say that they will not be going ahead with any corporate manslaughter charges against National Highways. Nargis Beghum was killed on a stretch of smart motorway on the M1 near Woodall Services, in September 2018 while Jason Mercer and Alexandru Murgeanu […]

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