Labour Urged to Reinstate Hard Shoulders on Four Key Smart Motorways
Labour has been called upon to reintroduce hard shoulders on smart motorways and alter regulations for the M1, M4, M6, and M25. These demands come from the RAC following a recent debate in the House of Lords regarding smart motorways, which encompass sections of roadway passing through Birmingham.
Safety Concerns and Value Assessments
During the debate, Lord Harris of Haringey raised significant issues, stating, "My Lords, I thank the Minister for her reply, but according to National Highways’ official reports, these big projects to convert hard shoulders on the M1, M4, M6 and M25 were regarded as poor, or very poor, value." He emphasized his primary concern is safety, noting that despite technological improvements like electronic signs for traffic control, casualties and serious injuries have increased on certain stretches, such as the M3 and parts of the M1.
Government Response and Economic Benefits
In response, Baroness Blake of Leeds defended the schemes, saying, "Just to broaden the issue, the majority of schemes are delivering economic benefits and have created additional lane capacity, which is beneficial now and into the future." She addressed perception issues, asserting that smart motorways remain the safest roads and highlighted ongoing monitoring of safety investments, including the addition of 150 emergency areas. Blake also mentioned that although A-roads carry half the traffic, 327 more people were killed or seriously injured on them compared to motorways, underscoring the government's commitment to road safety through a new strategy.
Political Criticism and Cost Concerns
Baroness Pidgeon, representing the Liberal Democrats, criticized the initiative, stating, "My Lords, it was clear from the start that so-called smart motorways were nothing of the sort, and they have led to a huge waste of public money and time, not only in building them but in having to retrospectively install more than 150 additional emergency areas." She questioned the total cost of these additional works and sought assurance that no further smart motorways would be installed. Blake confirmed, "I can absolutely assure the noble Baroness that no more smart motorways will be installed," reiterating their status as the safest roads.
RAC's Stance and Proposed Solutions
RAC head of policy Simon Williams expressed ongoing concerns, asking, "The ultimate question remains: will the motoring public ever be entirely comfortable driving on the 200-plus miles of motorway where the hard shoulder has been permanently removed?" He argued that while hard shoulders are not entirely safe, they are far safer than being stranded in a live lane during a breakdown. Williams advocated for converting existing all-lane-running smart motorways to 'dynamic' ones, where hard shoulders open only during busy periods, or reintroducing permanent hard shoulders, while retaining technology like variable speed limits to maintain traffic flow.
