A recent study conducted by the AA has shown that the number of drivers feeling nervous or anxious while using modern “smart” motorways has doubled over the past year.
These smart motorways utilize technology that repurposes the hard shoulder as an extra lane to improve traffic flow. As of April 2024, there were 396 miles of smart motorways in England. However, critics argue that these motorways are flawed, citing at least 79 fatalities on smart motorways between 2010 and 2024.
Research indicates that drivers facing breakdowns on motorways without a hard shoulder are around three times more likely to suffer fatal or serious injuries compared to those on roads with a permanent hard shoulder.
A survey of 12,705 AA members revealed that the percentage of individuals feeling nervous or anxious on smart motorways without a hard shoulder, which rely on emergency refuge areas spaced around three-quarters of a mile apart, has surged from 23% to 46% in the last year. Similarly, on motorways where the hard shoulder is opened only during peak times, anxiety levels among respondents rose from 30% to 47% within the same period.
In April 2023, the Conservative government announced the cancellation of all new smart motorway projects due to drivers’ lack of confidence and financial pressures. Edmund King, the AA president, emphasized the importance of reintroducing the hard shoulder in controlled motorway settings to regain driver trust in smart motorways.
The AA stressed the necessity for transparent and consistent assessments of motorway safety and monitoring. Despite the cessation of new smart motorway construction, concerns persist regarding the ongoing independent safety evaluations of existing smart motorways. The AA urged the prompt release of safety reports on operational smart motorway sections.
A spokesperson from the Department for Transport defended smart motorways, stating that they are the safest roads in terms of fatalities or serious injuries. The department continues to enhance smart motorways by adding more emergency areas to enhance user safety.
In conclusion, while the UK’s roads are considered among the safest globally, the government is committed to further improving road safety standards through its Road Safety Strategy, the first in over a decade.