Extra lay-bys could be fitted to all smart motorways
National Highways is “actively looking” at where to build extra emergency areas on all-lane running smart motorways under construction and considering retrofitting them to existing ones.
All-lane running smart motorways, in which the hard shoulder is permanently used as a ‘live lane’, have been criticised by safety campaigners and MPs, following a number of fatalities.
Earlier this month, a report by the House of Commons Transport Select Committee called for the roll-out of all-lane running smart motorways to be paused until five years of safety data is available.
Huw Merriman MP, the committee’s chair, suggested that the current data, which shows that smart motorways are safer than conventional motorways, is “open to question”.
Motorists are also confused about their use with half still unclear on what to do if they break down in a live lane, according to the committee.
Now, National Highways (formerly Highways England), which manages England’s motorways, has said it intends to build additional emergency areas on smart motorways currently under construction - approximately 80 miles.
Smart motorways programme director David Bray said: “We have listened to drivers’ concerns about being able to find a safe place to stop in an emergency.
“We are actively looking at where we can build additional emergency areas on motorways currently under construction.
“Doing the work while the roads are already being upgraded would mean less disruption for road users and the local community.”
He added that National Highways is “continuing to consider whether additional emergency areas could be retrofitted on existing sections of all-lane running motorway where places to stop in an emergency are more than one mile apart”, which was a commitment from an evidence stocktake and action plan published by the Department for Transport in March 2020.
National Highways has already installed an additional 10 emergency areas on the all-lane running sections of the M25 since those sections were first constructed.
What are smart motorways?
Smart motorways were introduced as a way of managing traffic and easing congestion, without having to widen roads.
What are the types of smart motorway?
There are three types of smart motorway:
- All-lane running: the hard shoulder is permanently converted into a live lane and there are emergency refuge areas at regular intervals.
- Dynamic hard shoulder: the hard shoulder is converted to a live lane at peak times of congestion.
- Controlled: a motorway with three or more lanes, a hard shoulder and variable speed limits
Are smart motorways safe?
Safety campaigners, members of the police and MPs have all raised concerns about smart motorways, particularly all-lane running ones.
A BBC Panorama investigation in 2020 found that 38 people were killed on smart motorways between 2014 and 2019 due to stranded vehicles in live lanes.
The Government announced a series of measures to improve the safety of smart motorways later that year, following a review.
However, it maintains that "in most ways, smart motorways are as safe as, or safer than, the conventional ones", based on the available data.
Subsequent reports have backed up this claim but there has been criticism that the data on smart motorways is not sufficient.
What should I do if my car breaks down on a smart motorway?
Smart motorways have emergency areas, placed at regular intervals, and you should use one of these, if possible. They are painted orange with orange SOS signs, and have an emergency phone where you can call for help.
National Highways says that you must contact them if you’re in an emergency area.
If it’s not possible to get to an emergency area, you should get yourself and any passengers out of the vehicle via the passenger door, and get over the safety barrier on to the verge. Keep clear of your vehicle and moving traffic at all times. If you can’t get to an emergency phone, then call 999 immediately.
National Highways says that if your car stops unexpectedly and it isn’t safe to get out, keep your seatbelt and hazard lights on and call 999 immediately.
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hissingsid on 18 November 2021
The advice if you break down away from a layby is to climb over the safety barrier and get onto the verge. Try that if you are elderly or disabled!DLDLDL on 19 November 2021
"Lay-bys" need to be about a minimum of a kilometre long (1/2 km to drift to a halt - leaving space for recovery vehicle in front, and 1/2 km to allow for acceleration before rejoining the "stupid lane"). They then need to start every kilometre.There is of course an easier way - which would also provide an access lane for emergency vehicles.
DLDLDL on 19 November 2021
By installing control gantries, variable speed limits and cameras, you might improve driving in that there is less speeding and less tailgating.Provided the driver does not get information overload from watching the traffic, his car and the endless gantries. The effect on driver fatigue of driving for an extended time on "stupid motorways" has not been assessed.
IF that does provide a safety benefit, doing away with the hard shoulder (a place where you can stop where, unlike a running lane, you can be pretty confident you will not be shunted up the back by another vehicle at speed) throws away a whole lot of safety.
How can stopping in a "live" lane be "safer" than stopping on a proper hard shoulder?
TedTom on 19 November 2021
I'm afraid in this country money talks, lives don't matter. They should be put back to hard shoulders as a matter of urgency.
DLDLDL on 19 November 2021
Always assuming that that "safety barrier" is not actually the parapet of a bridge which you cannot see in the dark!
Sharon Summers on 19 November 2021
Getting out of the passenger side is something I can't do because I'm on crutches, riddled with arthritis. It really scares me to drive on a smart motorway in case something does happen. I did email highways following their advert on tv and I was amazed that they replied, and gave me a mobile number to call!This would be a huge mistake to keep them.
soldierboy 001 on 19 November 2021
There are areas on Spanish motorways without hard shoulders and the distance between safe areas is about 1 KM were possible but they don't really allow much for slowing into or accelerating out of.Frank Bunce on 19 November 2021
The minister of transport and all the officials who support smart motorways and compile the 'Safety Rules' for them, should be required to carry out live practises of the suggested emergency procedures in the event of a breakdown and see if they think them adequate and acceptable. Of course, they won't do this. Everybody accepts that driving on any road carries a certain level of danger, but to introduce an obvious risk which replaces a safety feature – the hard shoulder – goes against all common sense and respect for life. Many people may get to their destination faster, but some people will never get there because of these changes to all lane running.Flak-Magnet on 19 November 2021
Even on the hard shoulder people get driven into. Park up and get out over the rail or up the embankment is the only safe way to handle a breakdown on a motorway.
michael james shiels on 19 November 2021
I will be very apprehensive and stressed every time I drive on these dangerous new motorways.My little Ford with its blinking haards would not be seen in a sleet/snow storm,and I would almost certainly be killed.jchinuk on 19 November 2021
I venture to suggest that if you are that nervous and unsure of the reliability of your car, driving is probably not to be recommended, seriously, take the bus or train.Paul Jenkinz on 21 November 2021
jchinuk that has to be one of the dumbest comments i have ever seen on here and ive seen some real whoppers not only is it dangerous for disabled people what about if you have young children in the car would you allow them to get out too
Edited by Paul Jenkinz on 21/11/2021 at 01:49
jchinuk on 19 November 2021
Please don't refer to these areas as "laybys", they are emergency refuge areas. Calling them laybys will mean some numpty will have a picnic in one.Mike Turner on 19 November 2021
I had to use one of these 'refuge areas' a few days ago. Very dangerous. They are just not big enough. Not long enough to get into without a serious speed reduction (with a lorry up your tail). Then not long enough to get out of again. I am not surprised that people have been killed.
Edited by Mike Turner on 19/11/2021 at 15:08
on 19 November 2021
It might be preferable to have these refuge areas every 100 yards - eventually new ones could be introduced every 50 yards, then every 25 yards and eventually link them all up to create a very safe area and call it ... mmm now let me think...what about 'a hard shoulder refuge area' - now that should resolve the issue I reckon. John TalbotFlak-Magnet on 19 November 2021
Really don't know what the problem is with all lane running. If you break down (and statistically you won't) get out of the car and hop over the barrier. Suggest you put your rear fog light on as well as emergency indicators to warn drivers of the obstruction. Easy.Graham Saunders on 19 November 2021
The best strategy is to make for the central reservation where you will 'only' be at risk from vehicles weighing less than 2 tons and which have better brakes than a 40 ton juggernaut that will be likely to hit you in the left hand lane.frederick heath on 19 November 2021
We don't just need more refuges, what is needed is what was promised from the start; instant recognition that a vehicle has broken down in a live lane and the instant red cross over that lane to close the lane off. Emergency vehicles still cannot reach the incident when the motorway jams up when a breakdown/accident occurs.paul mack on 19 November 2021
So, yet again, these muppets from National Highways still insist that ‘Smart’ Motorways are safe!On top of this AND despite the many deaths caused by this truly stupid and deadly idea, the government has not stepped in to revert back to hard shoulders and save lives.
Transport Secretary Shapps and his delusional colleagues are clueless and should be brought before a court of law to face the consequences of people’s lives lost and put behind bars to reflect on their disgraceful decisions.
george easton on 20 November 2021
What i suggest is , if anyone has to stop in a live lane for whatever reason and they are HIT by other traffic with serious consequences then SUE the Bosses not highways England individually , that might make the i****S take note that their i****ic idea of smart motorways are NOT smart !!hissingsid on 20 November 2021
One of the dubious arguments put forward in support of "Smart" motorways is that modern cars are less likely to break down, but any car no matter how reliable can have a puncture at any time.Mister S on 20 November 2021
Smart Motorways was a stupid idea from the start and the increasing number of needless deaths simply underlines that someone in authority needs to get real. If a death happened to one of their friends or relatives no doubt something would get done. All motorways currently under construction must have a hard shoulder provided and existing smart motorways need to be converted back. I have pledged support to www.crowdjustice.com/case/smart-motorway-jr/ who are trying to get enough funds for a Judicial review of the decision to allow Smart Motorways to be brought in. Action is needed!
on 20 November 2021
There is nothing smart about a 'Smart' motorway, they are deathtraps as has already been proven. The nonsense spouted by their supporters like, the lane can be shut down immediately if it's blocked by a breakdown is insulting the intelligence, it takes a fraction of a second at motorway speeds, (even slower speeds), for the vehicle behind to plough into the breakdown, then the next then the next with the potential of a huge deadly pileup and heaven help them if it involves HGV's. Probably the best way to get traffic volumes reduced on motorways is to allow these constant gridlocks to form then maybe many drivers might just start to think twice about their methods of travel.Brian Swain on 19 January 2022
Climbing over the barrier is not always a good idea. My engine warning light came on came on when I was on the M25 and I made it on to the hard shoulder. Fortunately it was daylight and I knew that stretch of the M25 well. The other side of the barrier was the on slip road for the M3!
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