Smart motorway dangers could be ignored as coroners don’t class deaths as preventable, charity warns

The dangers of smart motorways are at risk of being overlooked because inquests are failing to record most road deaths as preventable, coroners have been warned.

Research from the charity RoadPeace found that over the last 7 years only one in 40 (2.3 per cent) road deaths were classed as avoidable by coroners.

Only 285 Preventing Future Deaths Reports were issued by coroners for road deaths since 2013, where speed limits, motorway layout and road signs could be changed as a result.

16 coroners’ courts including Buckinghamshire and North East Kent have not issued one in the last 7 years.

During this time at least 12,339 people have died on Britain’s roads, including 359 children.

Smart motorways have recently come under scrutiny following the deaths of those stuck on hard shoulders that had been converted into live lanes of traffic.