- Transport Committee report recommendations force change to
Government policy
Following the Transport Committee’s inquiry into smart motorways,
the Government will immediately pause the rollout of all-lane
running motorway schemes. Where work is already under way on
smart motorways, additional emergency refuge areas and Stopped
Vehicle Detection will be installed where possible, in a £390
million retrofit programme.
In its response to the Committee’s report on the rollout and
safety of smart motorways, published today, the Government will
now move to collect five years of safety and economic data for
every all-lane running scheme introduced before 2020. The
Committee’s report had concluded that the March 2020 decision to
make all new motorways all-lane running was premature as the
evidence base was insufficient.
The conversion of seven dynamic hard shoulder motorways to ALR
schemes will also be paused and the Government will consider
alternative options for enhancing capacity on the Strategic Road
Network as it prepares for the next Road Investment Strategy. The
case for controlled motorways will be revisited.
The safety improvements set out in the Government’s 2020 action
plan are to be independently evaluated by the Office for Rail and
Road. Ministers have committed to an annual report to consider
progress and will consider the Committee’s recommendation that
the ORR reports on wider work by National Highways to improve
safety on the Strategic Road Network. The Government will
investigate the benefits of health and safety assessment being
undertaken by the ORR before changes to design or operational
standards are implemented on the SRN.
The Government has committed to improving safety measures on
existing stretches of Smart Motorway. The ORR will be tasked with
independently evaluating Stopped Vehicle Detection technology,
along with other safety measures. This will include a commitment
to reduce incidences of live-lane breakdowns and reducing the
risk for those who break down. Today’s response sets out a
commitment to make these roads less confusing for drivers and
give clear direction on what drivers should do if they break down
in a live lane.
Chair of the Transport Committee, , said:
“This is the Committee’s second inquiry into Smart Motorways.
Back in 2016, our concerns about safety were not addressed.
Assurances were given and not delivered. This time, Ministers
have accepted all our key recommendations and we welcome today’s
response.
“It was clear to our Committee that the public needs more
reassurance that these motorways are safe to use. With
conflicting and patchy evidence covering a limited number of
years, more time was required to properly assess the impact on
safety. By accepting our recommendation to pause the rollout of
Smart Motorways, the Government will have the weight of evidence
to assist planning for future road building design.
“It is important that this extra time is not just spent on
evaluation – it must be focused on making Smart Motorways safer.
The existing network of smart motorways must be improved to
deliver more emergency refuge areas and better technology to
close live lanes and reduce the risk for stranded motorists. The
addition of £390, is a welcome statement of intent.
“The Secretary of State for Transport and the Road Minister
deserve credit for revisiting the 2020 stocktake and action plan
and aiming for higher standards by accepting the recommendations
in our report. The Transport Committee undertakes to track the
performance of the Government’s actions. It is imperative that
the Department delivers on the actions it has promised. With
today’s response, the Government has demonstrated it shares our
concerns and determination to make these motorways safer.”
The Government’s new commitments will also be set out in a
written ministerial statement to Parliament on January 12.
