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    Smart motorways – the ultimate guide

    Last updated 24th April 2023

    Latest news: On the 15th April 2023, the UK Government announced it was halting new smart motorway construction. Eleven smart motorways have had their construction paused, and three scheduled to begin construction will no longer be a part of government road-building plans. However, smart motorways being implemented on the M56 and M6 will be completed as they are already over three-quarters completed. All smart motorways previously launched will remain in effect for the time being.

    Smart Motorways in 2023: everything you need to know

    The UK’s first ‘smart motorway’ was established in 2006, using new technology to manage traffic flow and make travelling around the country by motorway safer for drivers.

    Smart motorways are designed to increase the capacity of the road network, whilst reducing congestion, and improving journey times. To do this, they use a range of measures such as variable speed limits and the use of the hard shoulder as a running lane. They also use a range of safety measures, including CCTV cameras and electronic signs that can warn drivers of hazards, speed restrictions, or lane closures.

    However, smart motorways have been a controversial topic throughout their history, due to public fears about the removal of the hard shoulder. In April 2023, the British government confirmed that plans to create new smart motorways had been scrapped due to a lack of public confidence in them.

    For more information about smart motorways, read on.

    What are smart motorways?
    How do smart motorways work?
    What are the benefits of smart motorways?
    What are the negative aspects of smart motorways?
    Will new smart motorways be introduced in the UK?
    Will the UK’s current smart motorways be maintained? 

    Smart Motorway’s were intended to reduce congestion, but have had safety concerns in recent years.

    What are smart motorways? 

    Smart motorways were originally conceived in the 1990s, when the UK government began exploring ways to increase the capacity of the country’s motorway network, without the cost of building new roads.

    The UK’s first smart motorway was launched in 2006 – then named the ‘M42 Active Traffic Management (ATM) pilot scheme’. The scheme involved the installation of CCTV cameras, electronic signs, and lane control systems to manage traffic flow and reduce congestion. The success of the M42 scheme led to the introduction of similar schemes on other motorways.

    In 2014, the program was stepped up by the UK government, and a plan was initiated to convert several other existing motorways into smart motorways. This involved the conversion of the M1, M4, M5, M6, M25, and M62 motorways. The program also involved the introduction of new safety features, such as the use of Emergency Refuge Areas (ERAs) and the installation of more advanced technology to manage traffic flow and improve safety.

    However, smart motorways have become controversial in recent years, with many newspapers, journals, and high-profile public figures raising concerns about their safety.

    In 2020, the British government commissioned an independent review of smart motorways, which discovered that the removal of the hard shoulder had actually resulted in an increased risk to drivers. Consequently, the government announced a series of safety improvements, including the introduction of new radar-based technology to detect stopped vehicles and the installation of more ERAs.

    How do smart motorways work? 

    Smart motorways were introduced as a cost-effective alternative to traditional road-widening techniques to better manage traffic, increase capacity, and reduce congestion.

    There are essentially three types of smart motorway:

    • Variable speed limit motorways: these motorways use the default national speed limit of 70 mph – but, to manage traffic flow and ease congestion, reduce the speed limit to lower numbers by announcing this on overhead signs.
    • Dynamic hard shoulder running motorways: with these smart motorways, the emergency lane known as the ‘hard shoulder’ opens to traffic during busy periods, adding extra capacity for drivers. As with variable speed limits, overhead signs alert drivers when the lanes become active.
    • All lane running motorways: with these smart motorways, the hard shoulder is permanently used as an additional lane. To mitigate against the potential perils of not having an emergency lane, they have intermittent emergency refuges installed, giving motorists with mechanical issues some protection from the traffic. If there is a breakdown, ‘stopped vehicle technology’ engages automatically – it then typically takes National Highways an average of one minute to close the lane.

    What are the benefits of smart motorways?

    • Improved traffic flow: smart motorways are designed to reduce traffic congestion by allowing more vehicles to use the same road space at the same time. By using variable speed limits and opening up the hard shoulder for driving, it can help keep traffic moving.
    • Improved safety: though the safety of smart motorways is often debated, in theory, smart motorways are safer than regular motorways because they utilise a range of safety measures – including CCTV cameras and electronic signs that can warn drivers of hazards, speed restrictions, or lane closures. The technology used can also detect accidents more quickly and allow for faster emergency responses.
    • Reduced environmental impact: the improved traffic flow on smart motorways can reduce the amount of time vehicles spend in traffic jams, which lowers emissions and improves air quality.

    What are the negative aspects of smart motorways?

    • Lack of hard shoulder: one of the most controversial aspects of smart motorways is the removal of the hard shoulder. Critics argue that this makes it more difficult for emergency services to reach accidents and breakdowns, which can lead to longer response times and increased risks to drivers.
    • Increased risk of accidents: some studies have shown that the removal of the hard shoulder – and the use of ‘dynamic lanes’ ­– can increase the risk of accidents. This is because drivers may be less aware of other vehicles in the lane or may be confused about which lane to use.
    • Lack of public confidence: the controversy around the safety of smart motorways has grown into a lack of public confidence in the system. Many drivers feel that the benefits do not outweigh the risks – and, accordingly, would prefer to stick with traditional motorways.

    Will new smart motorways be introduced in the UK?

    The British government announced in April 2023 that plans to convert more motorways had been shelved and that the creation of new smart motorways had been removed from future road-building plans due to financial pressures and a lack of public confidence felt by drivers.

    It was confirmed at the same time, via the gov.uk website, that smart motorways earmarked for construction during the third ‘Road Investment Strategy’ (2025 to 2030) will now not go ahead. However, existing smart motorways will continue to benefit from £900 million in safety improvements.

    Bringing the smart motorway-building scheme to an end, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “All drivers deserve to have confidence in the roads they use to get around the country. That’s why last year I pledged to stop the building of all new smart motorways, and today I’m making good on that promise.” 

    Will the UK’s current smart motorways be maintained?

    About 10% of the UK’s motorway network is made up of smart motorways. However, 14 planned smart motorways have now been removed from government road-building plans.

    Existing smart motorways, including stretches of the M1, M3, M4, M5, M6, M20, M25, and

    M23 will be maintained – but be subjected to ongoing safety refits, adding further Emergency Refuge Areas.

    Want to learn more?

    Want to understand more about UK traffic laws? Check out more of our guides here, covering everything from the paperwork you need when buying and selling, to various notices you may need to file with the UK’s driver and vehicle licensing agency. 

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