The Secretary of State for Transport (): With your permission, Mr
Speaker, I would like to say a few words about an issue that I know
a lot of Members have been concerned about: smart motorways. I
announced last year that the Department would carry out an evidence
stock-take to gather the facts about the safety or otherwise of
smart motorways and make recommendations. I have listened to
friends and families affected, and I have looked hard at the
evidence. Today, I am publishing a report into the findings.
Alongside that report, I am launching an 18-point action plan to
raise the bar on smart motorway safety. Overall, the evidence shows
that in most ways smart motorways are as safe or safer than
conventional ones, but they are not in every way. I have therefore
developed new measures to further improve safety.
I pay tribute to Edmund King of the Automobile
Association and the families of those who have lost
loved ones, including Meera Naran who is here today watching our
proceedings. I also want to thank other campaigners, in
particular my right hon. Friend the Member for Hemel Hempstead
( ), the hon. Member for
Rotherham (), and my hon. Friends the
Members for Chatham and Aylesford () and for Harborough
(). Their work to help to
ensure our motorways are as safe as they can possibly be is, I
think, something the whole House will welcome. I have laid copies
of the report in the Library and a written statement will be laid
later today.
