Broken-down motorists could be left without a hard shoulder to cry on
HUGHWAYS chiefs are set to approve ‘smart motorways’ which operate without safety lanes for broken down vehicles.
Smart motorways would operate without safety lanes for broken down vehicles
They will publish a report next week recommending that sections of the M1, M3, M4, M5 and M6 operate without a hard shoulder.
Planners at Highways England say the new scheme will free up the congested network.
But the RAC and AA claim the "all-lane" system will risk the lives of stranded drivers and patrol staff out to rescue them.
RAC campaigners claim the plans are being rushed in following an M25 trial without thorough safety studies.
RAC and AA claim the 'all-lane' system will risk the lives of stranded drivers
Highways England will publish initial findings from its experiment on the M25
The latest version of smart motorways is quicker to build and more intuitive for drivers
They have presented evidence to the Parliamentary transport committee claiming "emergency refuge areas" included in the plans are too few and too small.
Research among members revealed drivers felt “more at risk” on motorways without a hard shoulder.
An RAC spokesman said no decision should be taken until “the safety of all-lanes running has been proven by an extended period of operation.”
He added: “The decision to base all future "smart" motorways on the all-lanes running configuration was taken before evidence was available.”
Motorists in difficulty on all-lane motorways will have no safe area
The AA warns that motorists in difficulty on all-lane motorways have no safe area.
But Highways England will publish initial findings from its experiment on the M25 junctions 5 to 7, and 23 to 27 and argue that it is safe to operate without a hard shoulder at all times, rather than just busy ones.
It will also insist there are sufficient refuge areas, many with telephones, to enable stranded drivers to ring a control centre for help.
Officials will confirm that hundreds more miles of motorway will be converted to all-lane running over the next 10 years.
Highways England said: “The latest version of smart motorways, where technology is installed and the hard shoulder is permanently converted for traffic, is quicker to build, more efficient to operate and more intuitive for drivers, without reducing safety."