‘Perilous’ smart motorways policy ‘putting lives at risk’
Up until recently National Highways has claimed the refuge areas that replace hard shoulders on smart motorways are safer, sighting they will close the first lane to allow you to leave the refuge area and get up to motorway speed, but recently, due to this video, I became aware that this policy had changed. So I submitted a Freedom of Information request asking for confirmation.
Now National Highways claim is was never policy to close the lane in the first place!
which is strange, because
link to this video here (see 2 minutes in)
and
and
Why would you NOT close the first lane to allow a driver to leave such a small area?
*National Highways are still saying you have to contact the control room to advise that you are leaving the refuge area
*The Control Room operator is still setting a sign (now an arrow, instead of a cross)
*Physics is still physics and you cant get up to the required speed in the space available in an ERA ESPECIALLY in a loaded vehicle carrier)
The ONLY difference in the processes is other road users are not fined for ignoring an arrow, so its is endangering all road users for no saving on costs or time!!
I have been told its to do with the measuring of KPI’s behind the scenes, which is again management prioritising measurable parameters to keep pressure on key staff, rather than concentrating on safety. (i.e. “your button pushing times are down” instead of “well done you averted a mass pile up”)