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Smart Motorways
22 February 2023
Lead MP
Sarah Champion
Rotherham
Lab
Responding Minister
Not recorded
Tags
TransportParliamentary Procedure
Word Count: 3493
Other Contributors: 2
At a Glance
Sarah Champion raised concerns about smart motorways in Westminster Hall. Response awaited from government.
Key Requests to Government:
Champion urged the Minister to recognise that the roll-out of smart motorways was a mistake and to restore the hard shoulder across the motorway network.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Sarah Champion highlighted the death of Jason Mercer on a smart motorway section where the hard shoulder was converted to a running lane. She mentioned that there were 79 deaths on Britain's growing smart motorway network up to July 2022 and cited concerns raised by Select Committees about safety risks, particularly regarding the removal of the hard shoulder and the lack of emergency refuges.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Jim Shannon commended the hon. Lady for bringing issues to Westminster Hall and raised concerns about the safety of smart motorways, particularly regarding insufficient signage to inform drivers about no hard shoulder sections. He also questioned whether high speed contributes to panic among drivers stuck on the hard shoulder.
Jonathan Gullis
Lab
North West Durham
Mr Gullis expressed sympathy for those who have lost loved ones in road accidents, clarified that new smart motorways schemes are paused but ongoing construction continues, and mentioned the investment of £900 million to bolster safety features across smart motorways.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.