Seven in 10 drivers want hard shoulders back on smart motorways

Almost seven in 10 drivers want hard shoulder reinstated on existing smart motorways despite objections over disruption and costs.

Pressure is now mounting on Downing Street to bring back the emergency lanes after cancelling some 14 schemes for all new smart motorways across England.

Research shows 69% of respondents to a poll commissioned by the RAC said they believe the emergency lane should be restored.

The survey was carried out hours after the government insisted on Monday that such a move would be ‘too disruptive’ and cost a ‘significant’ amount of money.

Labour’s shadow transport secretary, Louise Haigh, said smart motorways and ‘inadequate; safety systems are ‘not fit for purpose and are putting lives at risk’.

She said: ‘Conservative ministers should reinstate the hard shoulder on existing smart motorways and carry out remedial and safety work while a comprehensive review of the inadequate safety systems and evidence takes place.’

Smart motorways use various traffic management methods to increase capacity and reduce congestion in particularly busy areas.

These include converting the hard shoulder into a live running lane, and variable speed limits.

But there have been long-standing safety fears following fatal incidents in which vehicles stopped in live lanes were hit from behind.

National Highways, however, insists the roads are safer than conventional motorways.

RAC road safety spokesperson Simon Williams stressed it is clear the government has ‘totally lost faith in these types of road as well’.

‘We are pleased the government reached the same conclusion that many drivers already have by cancelling future smart motorway schemes which would have seen dozens more miles of hard shoulder disappearing forever,’ he said.

‘But, as things stand, by the end of 2023 there will still be 250 miles of motorway in England without hard shoulders.

‘Installing additional refuge areas and radar technology to help spot stricken cars is welcome and necessary, but for most drivers this doesn’t go far enough.

‘Many felt they were dangerous from the outset. Today, it remains the case that anyone unlucky enough to break down who can’t get to an emergency refuge area remains incredibly vulnerable where the hard shoulder has been taken out.

‘We continue to believe that reinstating the hard shoulder on all stretches of road where they’ve been converted into a permanent fourth lane is the right thing to do.’

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