Current location:business >>
Hard shoulders should be brought back on smart motorways to make them safer, the RAC urges
business541People have gathered around
IntroductionHard shoulders should be reinstated on smart motorways, the RAC has said.The motoring group issued t ...
Hard shoulders should be reinstated on smart motorways, the RAC has said.
The motoring group issued the plea to ministers a year after Rishi Sunak cancelled all future planned smart motorway projects, citing financial pressures and a lack of public confidence in the roads.
The first stretch of all-lane running (ALR) smart motorway – using the hard shoulder as a permanent live traffic lane – opened on the M25 in Hertfordshire ten years ago.
ALR smart motorways aim to increase capacity at a lower cost than widening roads.
But there have been long-standing safety concerns after fatal incidents in which vehicles stopped in live lanes were hit from behind.
The Mail has campaigned for greater safety on smart motorways.
The motoring group issued the plea to ministers a year after Rishi Sunak cancelled all future planned smart motorway projects, citing financial pressures and a lack of public confidence in the roads (Stock Image)
AA: Don't let young new drivers carry their friends
Young drivers should be banned from carrying passengers of a similar age for at least six months after passing their test, the AA has told the Government.
It wants a graduated licence scheme introduced as a safety measure to cut 'needless deaths' involving inexperienced drivers.
Suggested measures include new drivers being required to keep a record showing they have driven on all types of roads.
Limitations would be put on drivers for a set period after passing their test.
Edmund King, the AA president, said: 'One in five young drivers crash within a year of passing their test.
'We owe it to the next generation to introduce positive measures that will help give them healthy and prosperous lives.'
AdvertisementRAC head of policy Simon Williams said: 'While heralded as a cost-effective way of increasing capacity on some of our busier roads, a colossal amount of public money has since gone into trying to make them safer – by installing radar-based technology to detect stricken vehicles, plus the creation of more emergency refuge areas.
'The Government should either convert existing ALR smart motorways to dynamic ones – where the hard shoulder is only opened to traffic during busy periods – or repaint the white line and reintroduce a permanent hard shoulder.'
It follows a National Highways report published in December that found smart motorways without a hard shoulder were three times more dangerous to break down on than those with an emergency lane.
The study also showed that the rate of 'killed and serious injury' (KSI) incidents during breakdowns on smart motorways with no permanent hard shoulder has increased by 10 per cent.
KSI tragedies increased for three out of five schemes since having their hard shoulder removed.
These were the M1 junctions 39 to 42, M25 junctions 5 to 7 and M6 junctions 11A to 13.
In April last year Mr Sunak announced he was halting new smart motorways from being built.
But he stopped short of scrapping more than 400 miles of existing schemes which have their hard shoulder permanently removed.
A Department for Transport spokesman said: 'We recognise the need for the public to feel safe driving, and have cancelled plans for all new smart motorway schemes.'
Tags:
Reprint:Friends are welcome to share on the Internet, but please indicate the source of the article when reprinting it.“Culture Curve news portal”。http://frenchpolynesia.izmirambar.net/article-68f199897.html
Previous:UN Security Council rejects Russia
Next:Rays opening
Related articles
US overdose deaths dropped in 2023, the first time since 2018
businessNEW YORK (AP) — The number of U.S. fatal overdoses fell last year, according to Centers for Disease ...
【business】
Read moreCollege Students in Hebei Send Love, Warmth to Rural Children in Winter Vacation
businessContact Us HomeNewsHighlightACWF NewsSocietyWom ...
【business】
Read moreBook on People
businessContact Us HomeNewsHighlightACWF NewsSocietyWom ...
【business】
Read more
Popular articles
Latest articles
Seven sneaky clauses in estate agent contracts that can cost you dear
People Pay Tribute to Deceased Ahead of Qingming Festival in Beijing
Greater Bay Area Flower Show Kicks off in Shenzhen
Jiangxi Improves Family Education Guidance Service Provision
Israeli army says it kills over 130 militants in E. Rafah
Promotion Event for Liangma River Held in Beijing
LINKS
- Kenya president postpones reopening of schools as flood
- Soccer fan arrested in Marseille as authorities investigate reports of Nazi salute, monkey chants
- A Black lawmaker briefly expelled from the Tennessee Statehouse will remain on the 2024 ballot
- Three groups are suing New Jersey to block an offshore wind farm
- Antetokounmpo sits, Lillard returns as Bucks face Pacers in Game 6 of playoff series
- Mick Jagger wades into politics, taking verbal jab at Louisiana state governor at performance
- Married At First Sight groom Tim Calwell speaks out after wife Sara Mesa 'cheated' on him amid puppy
- A suspected Islamic State group attack on pro
- Argentina's slump is forgotten after NZ is blown away at Singapore Sevens
- Jay Blades' wife Lisa shares cryptic message in the wake of couple's split