The UK Government has been urged by the Transport Committee not to ignore safety concerns with the designs of its smart motorways projects.

In June 2016, the committee warned 'all lane running' schemes should not proceed while major safety concerns existed.

The Department for Transport (DfT) predicted in 2015 that traffic on the strategic road network would increase by up to 60% by 2040. Smart motorways are seen as a way of addressing this growth, without incurring the costs of traditional motorway widening.

Plans are in place to permanently convert the hard shoulder into a running lane on around 300 miles of motorway. Highways England has a programme of 30 all lane running schemes to the value of around £6 billion over the next 30 years.


However, despite warnings Ministers are pressing ahead with the latest smart motorways designs and are ignoring concerns expressed by MPs and other motoring organisations

Louise Ellman, Chair of the Transport Committee, said: "The Committee isn't arguing with the Government about the need for more capacity on our motorways, or their statement that motorways are our safest roads. We support smart motorways such as the M42 scheme.

"But we take real issue with the Government's assertion that all lane running schemes on motorways are no different to other types of roads without hard shoulders. Motorways are a different class of road and drivers have different expectations when using them."

Ms Ellman added: "Ministers recognise that the public needs to learn about variable speed limits and compliance with Red X signals on these motorways.  Even then, we believe that education will fail without enforcement and ministers need to ensure that failure to comply is backed up with effective enforcement.

"The Committee remains concerned about the size and spacing of Emergency Refuge Areas. While we are pleased that Highways England has committed to a review, the M4 proposal should not have gone ahead until the review is complete.

"We are not the only people who are worried about this incarnation of All lane running schemes. In the course of our inquiry, there were genuine concerns raised by the emergency services, road workers and recovery operators. The Government cannot ignore them."

(LM/CD)