- Calls for the hard shoulder to be reinstated after smart motorway failings
The case for hard shoulders to be returned to motorways has been strengthened after a long-awaited safety report shows smart motorway radar systems have failed to protect drivers adequately.
The release of the fourth Stocktake report into the safety of ‘smart’ motorways by National Highways, alongside analysis by the Office of Road and Rail (ORR), shows a third of radar detection schemes tested failed to meet the standard required.
These systems are meant to detect cars that have broken down by using automated signalling (Midas) software but the report found two failed and worsened in a 12-month period.
The motorway incident detection software failed completely on a stretch of the M62 between J10 and J12 and was out of service for 28 days, from 7 August, causing National Highways to lower the speed limit on almost nine miles of the M62 until it was fixed.
The ‘unplanned’ loss of this safety technology was due National Highways ‘discovering a software fault’.
Recently, the AA found three in five people want smart motorways scrapped.
Smart motorway software used to detect broken down cars in lanes was out of service for a staggering 28 days on a stretch of the M62 putting the safety of drivers at risk
While traditional motorways have a hard shoulder where broken down cars can pull over safely on, smart motorways use all lane running (ALR) which permanently removes the hard shoulder and converts it into a running lane.
A car that breaks down or is involved in an accident should use emergency refuge areas at the side of the carriageway.
Looking at 12 stretches of smart motorway, the ORR analysis found four did not meet the target for detection rates, one didn’t meet the target for false discovery rates, and two did not meet the target for average detection times.
Despite this, the ORR report says that the SVD system continues to deliver safety benefits for road users.
Edmund King, AA president, said: ‘Data released by National Highways shows that several sections of all lane running on the M1 have a higher KSI (killed or seriously injured) rate now than before the loss of the hard shoulder.’
Pointing to the M62’s almost month-long system outage King added: ‘This loss of safety technology, which drivers have been asked to put their trust in, meant they were put in unnecessary danger.
‘It is little wonder that a third of drivers say they feel less safe on smart motorways compared to three years ago.
‘It is time to accept so-called ‘smart’ motorways has failed and side with the majority of drivers who want the reinstatement of the hard shoulder.’
Nicholas Lyes, of IAM RoadSmart, also noted ‘the public’s hostility’ towards smart motorways needed to be taken into account when the Government decides what to do with ‘existing stretches’ and ‘future capacity expansion.’
He said: ‘After the many billions of pounds that have been spent on smart motorways, the metrics do not show a safer network compared to what it replaced,’ she commented.
‘It also reveals that on those stretches of all lane running smart motorways without a hard shoulder, the rate of fatal and serious collisions involving stopped vehicles is almost double that of both a conventional motorway and those with a dynamic hard shoulder.’
A National Highways spokesperson said: ‘Safety is our number one priority, and we’re doing everything in our control to make sure our roads are even safer.
‘Our latest analysis continues to show that overall, smart motorways remain our safest roads. We have completed all of our stocktake actions including upgrading the technology to detect stopped vehicles and improving response times to live lane breakdowns. On top of this we have made good progress on the delivery of our commitment to install 150 new emergency areas.’
British drivers don’t feel safe on smart motorways
A third of drivers feel ‘a lot less safe’ on smart motorways than they did three years ago, according to new AA data.
While just two per cent of the panel of 13,500 UK licence holders said they feel more at risk on conventional motorways than they did in 2022, 34 per cent said they are more anxious driving on sections of smart motorway with dynamic hard shoulders, which can be turned into active lanes to ease congestion when traffic levels rise.
Drivers generally feel more unsafe on any stretch of smart motorway where there is no hard shoulder, the study found.
As such, three in five of the nation’s motorists want smart motorways scrapped entirely.
What are the three types of ‘smart’ motorways and how do they work?
ALL LANE RUNNING (ALR)
All lane running schemes permanently remove the hard shoulder and convert it into a running lane.
On these types of motorway, lane one (formerly the hard shoulder) is only closed to traffic in the event of an incident.
In this case a lane closure will be signalled by a red X on the gantry above, meaning you must exit the lane as soon as possible.
All running lane motorways also have overhead gantry signs that display the mandatory speed limit.
Should drivers break down or be involved in an accident there are emergency refuge areas at the side of the carriageway for them to use.
Miles in total: 249.5 miles
Percentage of smart motorways in England: 55.1%
Percentage of all motorways in England: 13%
CONTROLLED MOTORWAY
Controlled motorways have three or more lanes with variable speed limits, but retains a hard shoulder. The hard shoulder should only be used in a genuine emergency.
These variable speed limits are displayed on overhead gantry signs – if no speed limit is displayed the national speed limit is in place. Speed cameras are used to enforce these.
Miles in total: 140.2 miles
Percentage of smart motorways in England: 31.0%
Percentage of all motorways in England: 7.3%
DYNAMIC HARD SHOULDER (DHS)
Originally referred to as Hard Shoulder Running smart motorways, dynamic hard shoulder running involves open the hard shoulder as a running lane to traffic at busy periods to ease congestion.
On these stretches a solid white line differentiates the hard shoulder from the normal carriageway. Overhead signs on gantries indicate whether or not the hard shoulder is open to traffic.
The hard shoulder must not be used if the signs over it are blank or display a red X, except in the case of an emergency.
A red X on the gantry above means you must exit the lane as soon as possible.
Overhead gantries on these types of motorway also display the mandatory speed limit which varies depending on the traffic conditions. Speed cameras are used to enforce these – no speed limit displayed indicates the national speed limit is in place.
Miles in total: 62.6 miles
Percentage of smart motorways in England: 13.8%
Percentage of all motorways in England: 3.3%
