HE “working hard” on smart motorway concerns
Highways England has responded to concerns about the safety of smart motorways by insisting that in most ways they are as safe, or safer, than conventional ones. Over the last week a coroner and Police and Crime Commissioner have both questioned the use of the hard shoulder as a running lane, in reaction to the […]
South Yorkshire Police Chief calls for end of smart motorways
The Police and Crime Commissioner for South Yorkshire has written an open letter to the Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, and Highways England, calling for smart motorways to be abandoned “before more lives are lost”. Dr Alan Billings wants all-lane-running stretches such as that along part of the M1 past Sheffield to have the hard shoulder […]
HE should “maximise safety of smart motorways” – Lawyer
A leading personal injuries lawyer has told Highways News he does not think that Highways England is at risk of being found guilty of corporate manslaughter over deaths on a smart motorway, but that the government-owned company will need to consider the issues and determine if anything further can be done to maximise the safety […]
HE planning smart motorways education campaign
Highways England is planning to run a £5 million TV campaign educating drivers about smart motorways. The Telegraph reports that the Department for Transport explains that the campaign will “improve people’s confidence in using all types of motorways, including what to do in the event of a breakdown in a live lane.” This news follows […]
Coroner calls for smart motorway review
A coroner has stated that smart motorways without a hard shoulder carry “an ongoing risk of future deaths” after recording a version of unlawful killing into the deaths of two men on the M1 in 2019. Thee BBC reports that Coroner David Urpeth has called for a review of smart motorways after closing the inquest […]
Navtech’s ClearWay SVD to be rolled out on smart motorways
Navtech Radar’s ClearWay stopped vehicle detection technology is to be deployed on more roads across the UK as part of Highways England’s programme to enhance safety on smart motorways. The Oxfordshire-based designer and manufacturer has won a competitive tender to supply ClearWay for all all-lane-running motorways to quickly identify vehicles that have stopped, helping to […]
Survey suggests fewer than half of drivers understand smart motorways
The road safety charity Brake has issued the results of a survey which suggest that only 48% of drivers know what the rules are for driving on a smart motorway. The report, based on a survey of 2,000 drivers for Brake and Green Flag breakdown provider, found that a quarter don’t know what a smart […]
Smart motorway death widow says driver should not be jailed
The widow of a man killed in a crash on a smart motorway is urging the judge in the case not to jail the man who admitted causing the death. The Sunday Telegraph reported that Claire Mercer will use her victim impact statement to blame Highways England because of the removal of hard shoulders on […]
HE boss admits smart motorway introduction ‘could have been done better’
The outgoing Chief Executive of Highways England has admitted the organisation could have done a better job of introducing smart motorways. In an interview with Highways News to be published in full next week, Mr O’Sullivan told site co-owner Adrian Tatum things “could have been done differently” over the way the organisation communicated the concept […]
HE faces allegations smart motorways discriminate against disabled
Highways England is being accused of ignoring disabled drivers’ safety on smart motorways. The Daily Telegraph reports that disability campaigners are supporting a legal challenge claiming that removing the hard shoulder breaks the Equality Act by discriminating against disabled drivers. The report says numerous wheelchair users are “petrified” of breaking down because they would struggle […]
