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 […]
Work begins on latest stretch of M62 smart motorway
Highways England has begun work on turning a stretch of the M62 between Manchester and Huddersfield into a smart motorway. The initial work between junctions 20 and 22 is to “toughen up” the hard shoulder so it can be used as a temporary lane when construction work begins next year. This will mean night closures […]
HE restarting M1 smart motorway works
Highways England’s going to continue converting the M1 near Milton Keynes into a smart motorway, telling nearby residents construction will begin again next month. Local radio station MKFM reports that piling work will begin from 12th May. It quotes Highways England as saying the activity will have strict safeguarding measures.
HE in £32m SVD tender
After Highways England pledged to increase the safety levels on smart motorways, it’s put out a tender for a stopped vehicle detection system. It wants companies to pitch their designs for technology that will detect individual stopped vehicles in live lanes on all-lane running sections. It says the SVD solution must enable early intervention and […]