Experts are calling on the Government to remove all existing smart motorways and for the hard shoulder to be reinstated after a number of high-profile safety issues.
Smart motorways use traffic management methods to increase capacity and reduce congestion in particularly busy areas, but they have repeatedly been criticised by drivers for being dangerous.
Parts of the country that operate smart motorways lack a hard shoulder, meaning that in the case of an emergency, drivers are left without a crucial safety net.
One of the major roads which operates a smart motorway is the M25, which surrounds London. The Government announced it would scrap plans to introduce new measures after it caused traffic chaos.
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The RAC has called for a total removal of smart motorways
PAHowever, smart motorways still exist and instead of being removed completely, National Highways revealed it would create 52 emergency areas to offer drivers an alternative to a hard shoulder.
Simon Williams, head of policy at the RAC, said: “There is a real irony when it comes to talking about cost pressures in relation to these distinctly unpopular types of motorway.
“While heralded as a cost-effective way of increasing capacity on some of our busier roads, a colossal amount of public money has since gone into trying to make them safer – for instance by installing radar-based technology to detect stricken vehicles more quickly, plus the creation of additional emergency refuge areas.
“This cash needn’t have been spent had the Government not taken the decision to plough on with building all-lane running motorways, regardless of concerns expressed by drivers, the RAC and even the Transport Committee.”
The motoring organisation has pushed for the removal of all smart motorways and, where still in operation, they should be converted into “dynamic” roads that have a hard shoulder that opens for traffic during busy periods.
Williams added: “The ultimate question remains: will the motoring public ever be entirely comfortable driving on the 200-plus miles of motorway where the hard shoulder has been permanently removed?
“The hard shoulder is by no means a safe location, but in the event of a breakdown, it is far safer than being stranded in a live lane of traffic waiting for the ‘red X closed lane’ sign to be turned on and then for other drivers to do the right thing and move into another lane.
“In either case, queue-busting technology, such as variable speed limits, could remain to help ensure traffic flows as smoothly as possible.”
Campaigns to remove smart motorways have been gaining support over the past few years, with one activist going above and beyond to try and get them removed.
Claire Mercer's husband Jason was killed on a smart motorway and has been campaigning to honour him ever since, even raising almost £40,000 in crowdfunding to bring legal action against the creation of the controversial roads.
In spite of the Government's announcement that it would ban smart motorways, Mercer described this as a "stalling tactic" rather than real action. She also warned that the lack of policy change was “putting thousands of lives at risk”.
She remarked: “As time passes the pain of losing Jason doesn’t ease but more information about the lack of safety on ALRs continues to come to light.”
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Smart motorways were first introduced in 2006
PAMercer founded The Smart Motorways Kill group which has amassed public support. The campaign has helped bring a judicial review to smart motorways as well as raise awareness of the impact it has on loved ones.