More than 53,000 motorists have been caught by police enforcement cameras disobeying Red X signs on smart motorways since 2021, according to the UK’s leading road safety charity IAM RoadSmart. Analysed data gathered through a Freedom of Information request to police forces in England reveals that in 2021, nine police forces were enforcing against Red X … [Read more...]
Newslines 7 June
INEOS Automotive has introduced a unique service called Arcane Works that creates limited editions of its award-winning Grenadier station wagon and then allows customers to further personalise the small-batch, hand-finished 4X4s with customised detailing and bespoke materials. Retaining the Grenadier’s best-in-class off-road capability with modern … [Read more...]
Motorway breakdowns need new strategy, says RAC
A year after banning future 'smart motorways' it is time to develop a clear policy for dealing with breakdowns, says the RAC. RAC head of policy Simon Williams said, “It’s incredible to think that a decade has gone by since the first all-lane-running stretch of smart motorway opened on the M25 in Hertfordshire, and that it’s a year to the day since the … [Read more...]
Smart motorways – what’s next?
Following a report in the i newpaper that suggests the Government may no longer build all-lane running smart motorways in the future, the RAC has expressed its concerns.. RAC head of roads policy Nicholas Lyes said, “If Ministers are giving serious consideration to completely scrapping new all-lane-running smart motorways, then this is an admission that the … [Read more...]
Drivers steer clear of smart motorways’ concept
Half of drivers say they frequently or occasionally avoid using lane one on ‘all lane running’ smart motorways. It's a revelation that completely undermines the very reason so many hard shoulders have been permanently turned into running lanes: to increase road capacity. RAC research with 1,904 drivers on ‘all lane running’ smart motorways, found a fifth … [Read more...]
Smart motorways scare a third of drivers
New research commissioned by IAM RoadSmart charity has revealed that potentially millions of drivers are worried about driving on Britain’s roads, mostly smart-motorways. The charity surveyed 1,004 motorists on which roads they are most worried about driving on, with 60 per cent of respondents declaring that they are worried about getting behind the wheel, … [Read more...]
‘Smart motorway’ revisions welcomed by IAM RoadSmart
One death on a smart motorway is one too many, so IAM RoadSmart has welcomed today’s update from National Highways on the Smart Motorway Stocktake and Action Plan, outlining their progress on delivering safer smart motorways. Neil Greig, Director of Policy and Research said, "We are now seeing the delivery of safety technology that was promised when the … [Read more...]
Motorway safety and speeders in Wales
New research reveals that an increasing number of drivers are taking their own precautionary measures when using smart stretches that are already in operation. It comes after the government last month announced a five year pause in the introduction of new smart motorways to assess their safety. A new study for Kwik Fit, the UK’s largest automotive … [Read more...]
Brakes go on smart motorways, for now
No more smart motorways will be built for now amid safety concerns but current sections will not be returned to hard shoulders. Using the hard shoulder as a permanent live traffic lane increases capacity, but critics say it's unsafe and has led to deaths. Five years of safety and economic data for the schemes will be collected from the … [Read more...]
Newslines 22 November
Road Angel is on a mission to make Smart Motorways safer by introducing its new Lane Closure visual and verbal warning feature directly into the driver's car. The new feature is available across all Road Angel Pure devices which thanks to a strategic partnership with Transport England are connected to the smart motorway network delivering the most vital … [Read more...]
