House of Commons · Written Ministerial Statement
Strategic Road Update
12 March 2020 · Department for Transport
Proposed by Grant Shapps Con Welwyn Hatfield
Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.
At a glance
Key points
- The minister announces a package of eighteen measures to enhance the safety of smart motorways.
- The package includes the abolition of the dynamic hard shoulder and the acceleration of stopped vehicle detection technology deployment.
- The measures aim to improve driver communication and emergency area visibility.
Issue summary
The statement addresses concerns about the safety of smart motorways and announces measures to improve their safety while retaining benefits.
Action requested
The minister is publishing a package of 18 measures including abolishing dynamic hard shoulder, speeding up deployment of stopped vehicle detection technology, improving emergency area visibility, increasing communication with drivers through targeted campaigns, and changing the law for red X violations enforcement. The aim is to enhance safety while maintaining the benefits of smart motorways.
Key facts
- Smart Motorways have seen a 23% rise in traffic since 2000.
- The package includes 18 measures to improve safety.
- Highways England will install stopped vehicle detection technology within 36 months.
- Emergency area spacing will be reduced to ¾ of a mile on future schemes.
- £5m is committed for national targeted communications campaigns.
- The law has been changed to enable automatic detection and enforcement of red X violations.
- A review of the use of red flashing lights by recovery vehicles will commence immediately.