‘Smart’ motorways raise breakdown safety fears

The safety of so-called ‘smart’ motorways, where the hard shoulder is turned into a permanent live traffic lane, has been called into question.

Eight miles of the M25 between junctions 23 and 25 became England’s first ‘smart’ section of motorway with traffic running permanently on the hard shoulder last month.

However, the RAC is concerned that motorists who break down on such a stretch of motorway could find it impossible to reach an emergency refuge area.

RAC technical director David Bizley said: “The RAC has raised concerns with the Highways Agency about the added risk arising from increased distance between emergency refuge areas, and we are disappointed so far at the absence of action to address them.”

The eight-mile stretch of the M25 is one of 10 smart motorway all-lane running schemes planned by the Highways Agency to increase capacity and reduce congestion.

Another version, known as dynamic hard shoulder running, where the hard shoulder is temporarily used as a running lane during busy periods, is in operation on sections of the M42, M1, M6 and M5.

Under the new schemes, however, the hard shoulder is permanently used as a running lane and only closed to traffic via overhead and verge-mounted signs in the event of an incident.

The RAC’s main safety concern is that emergency refuge areas on the newer schemes will be up to 2.5km apart, compared with 500-800m apart for those on the dynamic schemes.

Bizley explained: “Dynamic hard shoulder running has proved to be very successful in terms of reducing congestion at peak periods and has a good safety record.

“Indeed, so far, these sections of motorway have proven to be significantly safer than a conventional three-lane motorway with a hard shoulder.

“However, we believe the greater distance between emergency refuge areas creates an unnecessary risk to the safety of any motorist breaking down in lane one on an all-lane running section.”

Eighty-four per cent of drivers surveyed by the RAC felt that the hard shoulder was important in breakdown and accident situations and 82% said they would feel ‘very concerned’ if they broke down in lane one – formerly the hard shoulder – of a four-lane/all-lane running section of motorway.

Another section of smart motorway opened this week on the M25 between junctions 5 and 6/7, and further all-lane scheme are due to open on the M1 and M6 in the coming months.

The Highways Agency has insisted that motorists’ safety is not being compromised. A spokesman said: “The latest design builds on the experience of operating the M42 and M6, so providing the additional capacity required without compromising overall safety on our motorways, which are among the safest roads in the world.”

In fact, the Highways Agency argues that smart motorways are good news for fleets. The spokesman said: “There are clear advantages for anyone that drives frequently.

“Improved traffic flow reduces driver stress suffered from the stop–start nature of driving on congested roads, and the increased reliability of journey times will assist in planning fleet journeys and logistics.”

However, he did acknowledge that the changes should be communicated to drivers. “Fleet managers might want to advise their drivers to keep an eye on the gantry signs, even if it is a route they frequently use,” he said.

“For example, just because a lane has been open on previous occasions, drivers should not assume it is open today.

“Likewise, as with any motorway lane, it may be open now but closed further ahead, due to an incident, broken down vehicle or roadworks.”

Meanwhile, the RAC is urging the Government and the Highways Agency to ensure that those features that have led to the hard shoulder running concept having such a good safety record are applied to all-lane running.

Bizley concluded: “Whilst the Highways Agency needs to save costs, we must ensure the combination of variable speed limits, emergency refuge areas, clear and frequent signage and saturation CCTV is employed in all-lane running so that it is no less safe than dynamic hard shoulder running.”

See where smart motorways are planned

More articles on:

Author: Gareth Roberts

News editor

gareth.roberts@bauermedia.co.uk

01733 468314

Gareth has more than 20 years’ experience as a journalist having started his career in local newspapers in the 1990s. Prior to joining Fleet News in 2008, he worked in the public sector as a media advisor and is currently news editor at Fleet News.

Comments (4)

Login to comment

Comments

Alan Bourgein - 08/05/2014 12:07

At last someone has had the guts to point out a self evident truth - all lane running is a catastrophe waiting to happen.
- 0
- 0
- Roger Burdock - 10/05/2014 20:01
  
  @Alan Bourgein - you mean it hasn't happened all ready, just watch each exit and you will often see a driver going from the outside lane to the off ramp at a junction with feet to spare cutting other drivers up and sometimes doesn't make it and there is a 'incident' blocking numerous lanes. Hemel Hempstead junction on the m1 is typical.
  0
  
  0
Bob the Engineer - 09/05/2014 08:12

I use the M42 section a lot, have not had much concern about the hard shoulder use,there are cameras every few yards that detect if something stops in the lane and my understanding is the signs change instantly to warn the lane is closed, its only in use when the speed restrictions are active so people cannot be going too fast to react. In my experience a far more dangerous factor is the often random sudden drops in permitted speed. This causes sudden bunching of all 3/4 lanes, it seems to happen even at quieter times. You then get a large clump of traffic as faster traffic catches up with the slowed bunch. People no longer have the space to get over for their exits, chaos often follows.
- 0
- 0
- Alan Bourgein - 09/05/2014 09:14
  
  @Bob the Engineer - On the new M25 section they are using a system called "All Lane Running", so the hard shoulder lane is in permanent use with no speed restrictions. Not sure about the cameras, but the gantry signs are certainly not every few yards and in the time that the system identifies a "problem", changes the relevant gantry signs and drivers react to those changes, a 40 tonne artic could be approaching a small car that has run out of petrol with a mother and her children inside at a great speed. The other issue is access for emergency services. In the event of a major accident which closes all 4 lanes, how are the police and fire services going to reach the incident? Are we going to have emergency helicopters on standby 24/7? Has anyone really thought this through?
  0
  
  0
James Driver - 09/05/2014 12:35

Although they claim to have CCTV monitering, even if a vehicle breaks down on the hardshoulder and is removed promptly, the vairable speed limit is often left as slow as 30/40 for some time for the sake of a flat tyre and motorists safely well back on the bank, causing utter caos. On a rarely empty run of the M40 junction of the M25 we were still reduced to 40mph which caused utter hell. If they insist on using variable speed limits they MUST be monitered closer, as going from 70mph to 40 mph is just rediculous on clear roads. It wouldn't be so bad if the highways agency was forthcoming with evidence or explination of how this helps elivate traffic.
- 0
- 0
- Roger Burdock - 10/05/2014 19:54
  
  @James Driver - totally agree. The variable speed limit causes more problems than those it solves. What about the 70 speed limit has it been abolished? There are more people travelling in excess of 70 these days, how can this be policed, it can't.
  0
  
  0
Roger Burdock - 10/05/2014 19:47

Why doesn't the overhead gantry get turned off when the obstruction is cleared. I have been on a motorway when you can see the start znd finish with no problems in between, consequently motorists totally ignore the signs, and still ignore them when there is a problem, causing heavy breaking and often a shunt.
- 0
- 0