THE SMART MOTORWAY REVIEW by Mike Rawson
When Louise Haigh, MP, The Transport Secretary, was interviewed on LBC the program presenter read an extract from a letter she had written during her time as Shadow Transport Secretary.
In the letter Ms Haigh makes it very clear just how dangerous All Lane Running smart motorways are and how the only solution is the reinstatement of hard shoulders.
When asked to comment it was plainly obvious the Minister has executed a complete ‘U’ turn telling the presenter that improvements in technology has been considerable and that ORR, The Office of Rail & Road, is now carrying out a Review to see if smart motorways are ‘Fit for Purpose’.
ORR will complete the review in February 2025.
ORR is a non-ministerial part of government and, of course, funded by UK taxpayers.
Whilst not questioning its sincerity, by no stretch of the imagination, can the quango claim to be truly independent of the government.
At the very least, for the review to be acceptable to the public, ORR must not rely solely upon the evidence of National Highways (with a vested interest!) but take evidence from interested parties (The Smart Motorways Kill campaign, motoring organisations and from Roads Policing Officers with knowledge and practical experience of ALR smart motorways.
This will ensure the Review Panel has a balanced and unbiased picture of the reality which exists on high speed motorways.
No doubt, in its evidence to the Review, National Highways will emphasise the improvements to its SVD (Stopped Vehicle Detection) technology BUT it is not 100% successful and INSTANTANIOUS warnings of live lane obstructions will never be achievable to ALL drivers.
In a Freedom of Information request to Office of Rail & Road I have taken the opportunity to point out that the public will only accept the conclusions of the review if up to date and accurate KSI (Killed Seriously Injured) collision statistics, in which the absence of a hard shoulder has been the major contributory factor are included in the Report.
Whilst the Smart Motorways Kill campaign believes there is more than sufficient evidence to support the claim that ALL LANE RUNNING smart motorways are NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE it will support a TRULY INDEPENDENT inquiry.
Mike Rawson October 8th 2024
