In March 2020, the government stated that all smart motorways in the UK would become all-lane running.
This means that the hard shoulder would be removed completely from certain stretches of road!
This motion has been paused temporarily and has received a significant amount of backlash from UK motorists. Unfortunately, these smart motorway changes could be raised again!
In this article, we’ll discuss what smart motorways are, how to use them, the latest changes and potential dangers.
In addition to this, we’ll showcase what Scrap Local can do for vehicles which are likely to break down on these roads.
Smart motorways use technology to regulate traffic flow and reduce congestion along a particular stretch of road.
In the UK, there are currently three types of smart motorway. These are:
The main difference between the three types of smart motorway is their hard shoulder use.
To keep yourself and others safe on smart motorways, you must follow the rules listed below:
HADECS 3 speed cameras are used on smart motorways to catch rule breakers with snapshots. You could be fined and receive points on your licence for failing to follow these rules!
More importantly, failure to comply with these rules could endanger yourself and others.
Below we have provided a full list of the current smart motorways and where they operate specifically.
Please keep in mind that more smart motorways could be introduced in the UK.
Smart motorways are designed to reduce congestion and control the flow of traffic.
Despite this, the potential dangers of smart motorways often overshadow the positive impact they have on how we travel.
The government’s latest motion to make all smart motorways all-lane running has received a large amount of backlash due to the complete removal of the hard shoulder, which currently safeguards those who encounter issues on the motorway.
This decision has been described by some as dangerous and deadly as the removal of a hard shoulder means that there’s no designated space for vehicles involved in emergencies to go.
Moreover, both the Department for Transport and Highways England have failed to fulfil promises to make safety improvements for all-lane running smart motorways.
According to the Transport Committee, more than half of drivers are still unclear on what to do if they break down in a running lane.
On the 2nd November 2021, MPs called for the roll-out of all-lane running smart motorways to be paused.
However, this is only temporary and these changes to smart motorways could be introduced once safety improvements, which are deemed to be sufficient by the government, have been made.
Having received multiple phone calls from motorists who have broken down on fast paced roads, Scrap Local believes that smart motorways are unsafe as they currently stand.
Older models are more prone to mechanical faults and as winter approaches more vehicles will suffer from issues which could prove deadly in certain circumstances.
On top of this, there’s a large backlog of vehicles who haven’t passed their latest MOT due to Covid and are unequivocally dangerous on faster roads like smart motorways.
The current state of smart motorways and the proposed changes to these roads won’t help matters as motorists could find themselves stranded in live running lanes without any means of getting to safety.
Unfortunately, the safest and most cost-effective thing motorists can do is to scrap their older, less reliable vehicles.
Luckily, Scrap Local can help you remove your old set of wheels without any trouble!
We make the process of scrapping a car straightforward, offer free collection and will ensure that you have everything you need to remove your vehicle hassle-free.
Whilst there are ongoing protests against these types of road, smart motorways don’t seem to be going away anytime soon.
Currently, the government’s motion to make all smart motorways all-lane running has been paused. However, this and other changes to smart motorways could be introduced.
For up to date information, please see the motorway section of the highway code.
Whilst smart motorways aren’t mentioned by name in the highway code, the signs and signals used on these stretches of road are discussed.
The main disadvantages to smart motorways are:
The latest motion to remove the hard shoulder from smart motorways has been temporarily paused as improvements to safety are required to reduce the number of accidents on these roads.
If you’re on a smart motorway where the hard shoulder is unavailable, then you should try to reach an emergency refuge area, stop in the layby and turn your hazard warning lights on.
Once you’ve done this, exit your vehicle from the passenger side door and stand by the crash barrier and as far from the road as possible.
If you can’t reach an emergency refuge area, then stay in your vehicle, keep your seatbelt and hazard warning lights on, and call 999 for help.
Whether you’re a scrap metal dealer, vehicle recycler or even a scrap collector, joining Scrap Local today will give you access to thousands of new enquiries each month!
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