During Transport Questions in the Commons this morning, , former chairman of
the Transport Select Committee, said it had been three months since
the Secretary of State promised a rapid stock-take on smart
motorways, with recommendations brought forward “in a matter of
weeks.” She wanted to know what was being done to avoid further
“avoidable deaths.”
Transport Secretary replied that he had
uncovered a range of issues that he was not content to brush
over, so he had requested further information. “We are nearly
there,” he said.
Shadow Transport Secretary said it had been clear for
some time that all-lane running motorways were death traps. He
called for immediate action and for the smart motorways to be
scrapped but wanted full radar coverage first.
Mr Shapps said it was important that all the facts were gathered.
The question was whether smart motorways were less safe than the
rest of the motorway network. “The answer is that we must make
them at least as safe, if not safer. But we have to do this as a
fact-based process.” He wanted to speak to all interested
parties, including the families of victims and organisations like
the AA, RAC and MPs. “It does take time, but I don’t think he
will be disappointed with the results.”
, the new chairman of the
Transport Committee, focussed his questions on road safety around
schools.
Replying to , Mr Shapps said the new
stretch of the M20 due to open in her constituency of Chatham and
Aylesford would not be opened until after the results of the
stock-take.
The full transcript of this, along with other questions, will
be sent later today.
