YOU may get a shock when you drive on a smart motorway for the first time and have to reassess the rules of the road.
The technology-led thoroughfares have been shrouded by controversy since the concept was first introduced in 2006.
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But Brits could be at risk if travelling on them this weekend, as an outing of warning signs could spell chaos.
Overhead signs designed to protect stranded drivers will be out of action across the motorway network as part of a planned outage.
Whistleblowers at National Highways have warned that broken-down motorists could be left as “sitting ducks”.
The outage will affect sections of motorway across Yorkshire, the North East, North West, Midlands and South West.
They use modern methods to manage the flow of traffic, but this often means they are missing an important safety feature.
Smart motorways increase the number of lanes available by scrapping the hard shoulder.
But after a string of fatalities and accidents without motorists’ trusty refuge, the government has pumped the breaks on a national rollout until 2025.
Statistics revealed by the Office for Rail and Road in December warned that less than 60 per cent of stationary vehicles on the new roads were detected.
Chair of the Transport Committee Iain Stewart described the figure as “chilling” and “deeply concerning”.
“Every second counts when cars, coaches and lorries are driving at up to 70 mph and there’s no hard shoulder,” he said.
A government inquiry found that at least 24 broken-down drivers or passengers have died on them since 2015.
What is a smart motorway?
There are three types of smart motorways in the UK – all lane running (ARL), controlled, and dynamic hard shoulder.
As the name suggests, ARL refers to sections of the new roads where all lanes are open, meaning they do not have a hard shoulder.
Instead, they use specially designed Emergency Refuge Areas for motorists who get into trouble.
If there is a breakdown or incident in one of the lanes, overhead signs will inform drivers that it is closed.
Controlled sections of motorway use technology to manage the flow of traffic during busy times, that have at least three lanes.
Operators can vary the speed limit – with lit signs on overhead gantries – with the aim of reducing the frustrating stop-start driving conditions that often occur on normal roads.
They also activate warning signs – to alert you to traffic jams and hazards up ahead – and close lanes to allow emergency vehicles through.
Variable speed limits are enforced with automatic cameras – which run 24 hours a day, even when the limit is 70mph.
Smart motorways can also increase capacity on the road by opening up the hard shoulder at busy times.
These dynamic hard shoulder sections are operated by Highways England, a government-owned company.
It says congestion on the motorway and major road networks in England costs an estimated £2billion every year, with 25 per cent of this resulting from incidents.
Where are they near me?
After the success of the first smart motorway scheme on the M42, Britain now boasts over 236 miles of the new roads.
The majority of them are situated in the southeast as well as around Manchester, Birmingham and Sheffield.
Here is a roundup of the existing smart motorways in the UK:
- M1: J6A-J10, J23A-J24, J25-J28 and J31-J32
- M6: J10A-J11A
- M8: J7-8, J8-10 (Eastbound)
- M9: J1-J1A (southbound)
- M20: J5-J7
- M25: J2-J3,J6-J7 (anti-clockwise), J7-J23 and J27-J30
- M40: J16-M42, J3A (northbound)
- M42: J3-J3A (eastbound), J7-J9
- M60: J8-J18
- M62: J9-J10 (eastbound) and J28-J29
- M73: J1-J2, J2-J2A (Southbound)
- M74: J2A-J5
- M90: M9 J1A-J2 and J2-J3 (southbound)
- A90: Special road between the M90 in South Queensferry
- A14: J22-J33
- A1: Where it joins with the new A14
- A470: A648-M4 J32 (Southbound)
How can I stay safe on smart motorways?
According to a RAC survey, 68 per cent of Brits believe removing the hard shoulder compromises safety.
All normal road rules also apply when driving on smart motorways, but there are a few extra things to consider.
Highways England gives the following advice when driving on a smart motorway:
- Never drive under a red “X” – you could be finned £60 and receive three penalty points
- Keep to the speed limit shown on the gantries
- A solid white line indicates the hard shoulder – don’t drive in it unless directed
- A broken white line indicates a normal running lane
- Use the refuge areas for emergencies if there’s no hard shoulder
- Put your hazard lights on if you break down
- If your vehicle experiences difficulties, e.g. a warning light, exit the smart motorway immediately if possible and find a place of relative safety to stop
