Transport Secretary says smart motorways can be more dangerous than conventional roads as he announces safety measures
The Transport Secretary has announced 18 measures aimed at making smart motorways safer after discovering that sections of the network had experienced “clusters” of fatalities and injuries.
Grant Shapps’ long-awaited review into the controversial motorways follows an investigation by The Telegraph which revealed how motorists were being killed after breaking down on live lanes where the hard shoulder had been opened up to traffic.
The report shows that on average 11 people died in each year between 2015 and 2018, bringing the total to at least 44.
Mr Shapps’ announcement includes a “commitment” to rescuing stranded motorists within 10 minutes of a vehicle becoming stationary.
“Overall, the evidence shows that in most ways smart motorways are safer than conventional ones – but they are not in every way,” he said on Thursday. “I have therefore developed these new measures in order to further improve safety.”
The report shows that smart motorways account for fewer deaths per motorist than normal motorways, but more serious injuries.
Mr Shapps paid tribute to the families of people killed on smart motorways, who have campaigned for a government review.
It is hoped that improved safety will be achieved by recruiting more traffic police, rolling out a stationary vehicle detection system across the network within the next 36 months and bringing emergency refuge areas – the safe havens currently spaced just over a mile apart – closer together.
Mr Shapps wants Highways England, a Government-owned company, to reduce the distance between refuges to between three-quarters of a mile to a mile where possible, so motorists travelling at 60mph reach one every 45 seconds.
Engineers will then introduce more signs telling motorists where the nearest refuge areas are.
Read full article here -> https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/03/12/government-reveals-plan-make-smart-motorways-safer-admits-must/?fbclid=IwAR19wPbCdhHXH7iwP5dxW5Plsoo1O1IiJ2rJoZ_Qp2Tqt-mKYZGaSbVjHTc
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