Seven-in-10 drivers (69%) want the hard shoulder to be reinstated
on the 235 miles of existing all-lane-running smart motorways,
regardless of the Government claiming yesterday it would be too
disruptive and costly, according to new research by the RAC.*
The RAC believes this week’s decision to scrap 14
all-lane-running schemes needs to be quickly followed by the as
this is clearly what a majority of drivers are expecting.
Anything less will be seen as a poor excuse which could lead to
more lives being needlessly lost on these controversial
motorways, with just 31% of drivers saying the hard shoulder
should not be restored.
RAC road safety spokesman Simon Williams said: “While we’re
pleased the Government reached the same conclusion that many
drivers already have by cancelling future smart motorway schemes
which would have seen around dozens more miles of hard shoulder
disappearing forever, as things stand, by the end of this year
there will still be 250 miles of motorway in England without hard
shoulders – that’s around 13% of the complete network**.
“Installing additional refuge areas and radar technology to help
spot stricken vehicles is welcome and necessary, but for most
drivers this doesn’t go far enough. Many felt they were dangerous
from the outset and now it’s clear the Government has totally
lost faith in these types of road as well. 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.
“The Government claims that reinstating the hard shoulder would
‘come at a significant cost’ and be ‘too disruptive’ but our
research shows drivers clearly don’t buy this. Certainly, it’s
regrettable that so much public money has already been spent on
such deeply unpopular roads, but will the driving public accept
anything less than the return of the hard shoulder? What’s more,
the Government is making a saving of more than £1bn by virtue of
it deciding to cancel future smart motorway schemes in the first
place.
“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. We’d then like to see the
Government immediately start monitoring the impact this has on
congestion.
“While all the existing installed technology – including variable
speed limits – which helps to manage traffic flow would be
retained, it’s unclear how much increased congestion there would
be due to the overall reduction in road space.
“Nonetheless, this might be something drivers are willing to
tolerate if it means they’re kept safer, but another option could
be to convert as many all-lane-running stretches as feasible into
dynamic hard shoulder schemes, such as already exist on parts of
the M42, M4 and M5. In these locations, the hard shoulder remains
just that through most the day and night – and is opened at times
of peak traffic to help reduce congestion.
“These roads have a good safety record and the backing of as many
as seven-in-10 drivers according to our research. If the overhead
red-X sign was illuminated whenever the hard shoulder was closed,
this could also help make these roads even safer.
“Whatever action the Government decides to take, the status quo –
where we still have hundreds of miles of motorway without hard
shoulders simply isn’t sustainable. Longer term, a hotch-potch of
different motorway schemes, some with hard shoulders and some
without, surely isn’t the answer either.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
* Based on a nationally representative poll of 1,843 UK drivers,
conducted for the RAC on Monday 17 April 2023 by Findoutnow
** Government data shows there is 1911 miles of motorway in
England (under National Highways control)
