Someone quite senior in the Department of Transport would have signed off the business case for smart motorways. Quite possibly the inister as well.
It can't have escaped their notice (unless they were truly stupid) that this was dangerous.
I can only conclude the decision to adopt SM was based on the cost savings - much easier to paint some new white llines, erect some electronic signs than buy more land, widen bridges..
Like it or not, lives have an economic cost - the savings justified the possible loss of life. I suspect that the risk to life was understated - easy to do as it was only an estimate!!
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