The Transport Committee has responded to information released
today by the Office for Rail and Road highlighting shortcomings
and missed targets in the technology used to detect broken-down
vehicles on smart motorways.
Chair of the Transport Committee said:
“The statistics revealed today by the Office for Rail and Road
raise considerable concerns about the performance of National
Highways in protecting drivers on smart motorways. This is
putting lives at risk.
“The idea that in some regions of the country less than 60% of
stopped vehicles were detected on smart motorways is chilling. In
addition the fact that, in some areas, it took over 60 seconds
for a stopped vehicle to be detected is also deeply concerning.
Every second counts when cars, coaches and lorries are driving at
up to 70 mph and there’s no hard shoulder.
“This Committee has been highlighting issues with smart motorways
for a number of years, and we were supportive when the Department
for Transport told us in January it was pausing the creation of
new smart motorways, in response to the Committee’s
report.
“This new data will undermine trust that this system can work.
“It is positive that National Highways has today come out and
said it will invest in improving the Stopped Vehicle Detection
Systems. The dangers, however, are real right now and I urge
National Highways to show greater urgency than promising action
‘within the next six months’ given that the Government said
nearly a year ago that it was spending £390 million on improving
Stopped Vehicle Detection systems.”
