SMART motorways were introduced by the coalition government in 2014 with the intention of speeding up traffic flow.
But they were removed government’s road construction plans in 2023 due to lack of confidence felt by motorists and financial pressures – here’s everything you need to know.
What are smart highways?
There are three types of smart motorways in the UK – all lanes (ARL), controlled and dynamic shoulders.
ARL are sections of motorway that do not have shoulders.
Instead, they use Emergency Refuge Areas specially designed for drivers who get into trouble.
They were introduced in 2014 with the aim of controlling traffic flow and relieving congestion.
Around 10% of UK motorways are smart motorways.
Controlled sections of highways use technology to manage traffic flow during peak times.
Operators can vary the speed limit using illuminated signs on overhead gantries in an effort to reduce the frustrating stop-and-go driving conditions that often occur on normal roads.
They also activate warning signals, alerting drivers to traffic jams and dangers ahead, and can also close lanes to allow emergency vehicles to pass.
Variable speed limits are enforced with automatic cameras – which operate 24 hours a day, even when the limit is 110 km/h.
Smart motorways can also increase road capacity by opening shoulders at busy times.
These dynamic sections of hard shoulder are operated by Highways England, a state-owned company.
It states that congestion on motorways and the main road network in England costs around £2 billion a year, with 25 per cent of this resulting from incidents.
Where can you find smart highways?
The first smart motorway scheme was used on the M42 motorway in 2006.
All drivers deserve to have confidence in the roads they use to travel around the country
Rishi Sunak
There are now over 236 miles of smart motorways in England:
- M1: J10-16, J23A-J24, J25-J28 and J31-J32
- M6: J10A-J11A
- M8: J7-8, J8-10 (eastbound)
- M9: J1-J1A (southbound)
- M20: J5-J7
- M25: J2-J3, J6-J7 (counterclockwise),] J7-J23] and J27-J30
- M40: J16-M42 J3A (northbound)
- M42: J3-J3A (eastbound), J7-J9
- M60: J8-J18
- M62: J9-J10 (eastbound) and J28-J29
- M73: J1-J2, J2-J2A (southbound)
- M74: J2A-J5
- M90: M9 J1A-J2 and J2-J3 (southbound)
- A90: Special road between the M90 in South Queensferry
- A14: J22-J33
What happens on a smart highway?
Highways England gives the following advice when driving on a smart motorway:
- Never drive under a red “X”
- Respect the speed limit indicated on the gates
- A solid white line indicates the shoulder – do not drive on it unless directed
- A broken white line indicates a normal race track
- Use emergency refuge areas if there is no shoulder
- Turn on the emergency lights if you break down
Ten things YOU should know as a car owner
Are there more radars on smart motorways?
Almost 240 miles of motorways in England now have variable limits to regulate traffic flows, including on parts of the M1, M4, M5, M6 and M25.
Smart motorways use overhead gantries to display the mandatory speed limit that directs traffic into open lanes and changes speed limits depending on traffic volume.
Also mounted on gantries are speed cameras that detect drivers exceeding the speed limit.
The AA estimates that a record number of 7,000 cameras are now installed on motorways, secondary roads and in urban areas.
Those who breach it face a £100 fine and three penalty points on their licence.
Are smart highways dangerous?
In January 2022, the Department of Transport announced that its smart motorway expansion would be halted due to safety concerns.
A government inquiry found that at least 24 impaired drivers or passengers have died since 2015.
The then Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, confirmed he would delay plans for new projects until he had another five years of statistics.
He said: “Early data shows that smart motorways are among our safest roads, but it is crucial that we go further to ensure people feel safer using them.”
Committee chairman Huw Merriman stressed: “It is important that this extra time is spent on making these motorways safer – and not just on assessment.”
When were smart motorways banned?
The UK government confirmed on 15 April 2023 that the construction of new smart motorways would be banned.
This decision came after concerns about safety and cost.
Fourteen highways intended for public construction were removed from government planning.
Existing smart motorways will remain, but will be subject to a safety redesign so that there are more emergency stopping places.
The government added that two sections of the smart motorway – junctions six to eight of the M56 and junctions 21a to 26 of the M6 – will be completed as planned, as these routes are more than three-quarters complete.
On 15 April 2023, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “All drivers deserve to have confidence in the roads they use to travel around the country.
“That’s why last year I committed to stopping the construction of all new smart motorways and today I’m making good on that promise.
“Too many people across the country rely on driving to get to work, take their kids to school and go about their daily lives, and I want them to be able to do so with complete confidence that the roads they drive on are safe.”
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
