Govt under pressure over smart motorway reports

19/05/2021 | CHRIS AMES

A senior MP has pressed ministers over unpublished evaluations of smart motorways schemes covering stretches of the M1 that have seen high profile fatalities in live lanes.

Highways England has not published the post opening project evaluation (POPE) reports, despite a Freedom of Information (FOI) request from Highways.

The Government-owned company said the reports were ‘being analytically assured to check analysis is accurate and robust’.

It added that it 'planned' to publish the reports next month but did not commit to doing this, stating it ‘must allow time for due internal consideration of the information prior to its public release’.

This has raised concerns that publication may be delayed until the Transport Select Committee has completed its inquiry into smart motorways. Committee chair Huw Merriman used a parliamentary question to ask about the reports.

In response, transport minister Rachel Maclean only said that the reports are ‘expected to be published by Summer 2021’.

The issue was raised by AA president Edmund King at a committee hearing on Wednesday. Mr King told MPs: ‘We need all those evaluation reports.’

Mr King also called for Highways England to publish a 2018 evaluation of its radar-based system for detecting stopped vehicles on smart motorways. The government-owned company has refused to release the full report in response to a separate FOI request from Highways.

The POPE reports cover three all lane running sections of the M1. One is a five-year, after opening, evaluation of the scheme between junctions 10 and 13, while the other is said to be a joint one-year after opening report, concerning stretches of the same motorway between junctions 28 and 31 and between junctions 32 and 35a.

These sections of motorway have seen some of the highest profile fatalities on the smart motorway network.

In September 2018 Nargis Begum died after a car being driven by her husband broke down between junctions 30 and 31, despite having exited the vehicle. In February of this year, a coroner referred the case to the Crown Prosecution service for possible criminal charges against Highways England.

In March 2019 Derek Jacobs was killed after an apparent breakdown on the same stretch.

In June 2019, Jason Mercer and Alexandru Murgeanu died after a lorry crashed into their vehicles when they had stopped due to a minor collision near Junction 34. South Yorkshire Police has said it is investigating the case, along with that of Nargis Begum.

In December 2019, Zahid Ahmed died after another crash on the M1 at junction 11a. The BBC report that assistant coroner Tom Stoate said it was 'not clear where the vehicle could have pulled to a halt in a safe place'.

Highways England has significantly delayed publishing earlier POPE reports, with a batch of existing reports released for last year’s smart motorway stocktake.

The scheme between junctions 10 and 13 opened in December 2012 and a one-year after POPE report was completed in 2016 but not published until January 2020, more than three years later.

The section between junctions 28 and 31 opened in 2016 and the junctions 32-35a scheme opened the following spring.

The five-year report into the scheme between junctions 10 and 13 could be particularly revealing as it would only be the second long-term report into an all lane running scheme to be published.

As Highways has revealed, a report into a smart motorway section of the M6 revealed that the motorway became more dangerous as extra traffic took up the additional capacity created by the removal of the hard shoulder.

Highways England has only published one POPE since last year’s stocktake – into the recently opened M3 scheme. This revealed that the increase in carbon emissions since the scheme opened was even higher than forecast.

Highways InProfile

latest magazine issue
Highways jobs

Director of Transport

£112,924
East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) is on a bold journey. East Midlands Region
Recruiter: East Midlands Combined County Authority

Ferry Host - WMF3049i

£25,584 - £25,992
Ferry Host - WMF3049i Windermere, Cumbria
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Director of Streetscene

£94,972 - £108,767
We continue to have big ambitions for our borough Fareham, Hampshire
Recruiter: Fareham Borough Council

Principal Engineer - Urban Traffic Control (UTC)

£44,711 - £49,764
Liverpool is home to vibrant, energetic and engaged communities. Liverpool, Merseyside
Recruiter: Liverpool City Council

Roadworker/Driver

Grade 6 £25,183 - £25,638 per annum (Pay Award Pending)
We’re looking for Roadworker/trainee LGV drivers to be part of our team Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Project Chargehand (2 Posts)

Grade 9 £31,344 - £33,253 per annum (Pay Award Pending)
We’re looking for experienced Project Chargehands to be part of the Highways Construction Services team Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Lawyer 2- Planning and Highways

£49,764 - £54,181
We are looking for a fresh thinking and enthusiastic Planning and Highways Lawyer Hereford, Herefordshire
Recruiter: Herefordshire Council

Development Engineer

£35,967 - £41,268 per annum
Are you ready to play a key role in shaping and safeguarding the future of our highways and public spaces? Bexley (City/Town), London (Greater)
Recruiter: London Borough of Bexley

Professional Services Partnering Manager

Grade 13 £47,653 - £51,296 per annum (pay award pending)
We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Professional Services Partnering Manager to lead the strategic management Darley Dale, Matlock
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Technical Supervision Manager

Grade 13 £47,653 - £51,296 per annum (pay award pending)
We are looking for an experienced and driven Technical Supervision Manager to lead our technical supervision teams within the Highways Service. Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Street Lighting Electrician (CDC)

Grade 8, £32,662 - £36,239 (pay award pending)
Highways Operations is a growing service area within the Place directorate. Doncaster, South Yorkshire
Recruiter: City Of Doncaster Council

Highways Assistant Engineer WMF2133e

£39,513 to £40,476
We have an exciting opportunity for the right person to work within the challenging and ever-changing landscape. Penrith, Cumbria
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Highways Inspector/NRSWA

£36,345 - £40,344
We are looking for an organised and self-motivated individual to join our Streetworks Team based in Hackney Central. Hackney, London (Greater)
Recruiter: London Borough of Hackney Council

Structures Commissioner

Grade 14 £53,166 - £59,080 per annum (Pay Award Pending)
We are seeking an experienced and strategic leader to join our team as the Structures Commissioner. Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Team Leader Network Co-ordination

£51,429 - £58,140
As Team Leader for Network Coordination, you’ll manage a team that oversees all works and events on our public highways. Kensington and Chelsea, London (Greater)
Recruiter: The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Council

PRINCIPAL TRANSPORT PLANNING OFFICER

£43693 - £46731
We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced professional to join our team in Hull as a Principal Transport Planning Officer. Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire
Recruiter: Hull City Council

HIGHWAYS AND TRAFFIC ENGINEER - 4 POSTS

£43693 - £46731
We have several exciting opportunities for suitably qualified Highways Civil Engineers and Traffic Engineers Wilson Centre, 1st floor, Hull HU1 2AG
Recruiter: Hull City Council

Principal Transport Planner

£45,718 to £49,764
Do you have considerable experience in the transport strategy and policy, and are you looking for your next career development opportunity? Sheffield, South Yorkshire
Recruiter: Sheffield City Council

Project Lead - Bridges and Structures WMF3037e

£45,718 to £46,731
We are currently seeking to recruit a Project Lead to join our Bridges and Structures team Kendal, Cumbria
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council
SUBSCRIBE NOW

Latest Video

Subscribe to Highways today to ensure you keep your finger on the pulse of everything happening in the UK road network throughout the year.

SUBSCRIBE NOW