Retired Police Sergeant Mike Rawson has written the below to the Office of Rail and Road about the fact they have been chosen to conduct the review that the Secretary of State for Transport suddenly feels is suitable, rather than the “immediate return of hard shoulders on all motorways” which she called for last year.

Mike has corresponded quite a few times with the ORR and as recently as this month they told him “ORR does not assess whether smart motorways are ‘fit for purpose’ . This is a policy matter for DfT and falls outside ORR’s statutory duties and regulatory powers set out in the Infrastructure Act, 2015″

So it is very concerning that this DfT grant funded organisation have been chosen to conduct a review to see if smart motorways are fit for purpose

 

Dear Sir / Madam

 

Re:- SMART MOTORWAYS – ‘FIT FOR PURPOSE’ REVIEW

I understand ORR has been tasked by the Secretary of State for Transport, The Rt Hon Louise Haigh, MP, to carry out a review of smart motorways to see if they are ‘Fit for Purpose’.

I am a little surprised ORR has agreed to the request because, on October 14th 2024 in response to my Freedom of Information request to ORR, the following was included in the reply – ORR does not assess whether smart motorways are ‘fit for purpose’ . This is a policy matter for DfT and falls outside ORR’s statutory duties and regulatory powers set out in the Infrastructure Act, 2015.

However, if ORR is to accede to the Secretary of States’ request and carry out a review into smart motorways, I will be very concerned if ORR simply relies upon evidence from National Highways in reaching its conclusion as to whether smart motorways are ‘fit for purpose’.

For the Report to be acceptable to the public, who have serious and justifiable concerns about safety on smart motorways with no hard shoulders, I would respectfully suggest ORR widens the scope of the review by seeking evidence from interested bodies (The Smart Motorways Kill campaign), motoring organisations, representatives of Vehicle Recovery Companies and from Roads Policing Officers with knowledge and experience of ALR smart motorways.

I would appreciate the opportunity to speak to a member of the team deputed to carry out the review – thank you.

 

Yours faithfully

 

Mike Rawson       (Ret Metropolitan Police Traffic Sergeant)                      www.smartmotorwayskill.co.uk