M4 smart motorway moves to SVD testing08/07/2022 National Highways is lifting traffic management on the eastern section of its project to convert 32 miles of the M4 to all lane running and will now begin testing stopped vehicle detection technology on the stretch. |
Shapps agrees to pause smart motorways rollout12/01/2022 Ministers have broadly accepted the recommendations of a report by MPs into smart motorways, including pausing both all-lane running (ALR) schemes that have not started construction and the conversion of dynamic hard shoulder schemes to ALR, and revisiting the case for controlled motorways. |
All lane running gets red X from MPs02/11/2021 MPs have called on ministers to pause the rollout of all-lane running ‘smart motorways’ until the safety and economic case for the schemes is clear and National Highways has delivered and evaluated key safety improvements. |
Smart motorway opening delayed for SVD21/09/2021 The second phase of National Highways’ £85m conversion of a stretch of the M56 to all lane running will get underway next month but the opening of the project will be delayed for the installation of stopped vehicle detection (SVD) technology. |
Most drivers want all lane running scrapped, new survey shows15/09/2021 Public confidence in all-lane-running (ALR) smart motorway schemes appears to be collapsing, with 84% of drivers believing that safety is compromised by the permanent removal of the hard shoulder. |
M1 smart motorway 'will ease congestion'14/09/2021 National Highways is continuing work to convert a new section of the M1 to an all lane running smart motorway which will link to a section of smart motorway that has been found to have increased journey times. |
Smart motorway scheme delayed for stopped vehicle detection tech21/07/2021 Highways England has further delayed the opening of an all lane running smart motorway scheme to install stopped vehicle detection (SVD) technology on the M27, with the scheme now not due to open until next spring. |
All lane running smart motorways now more lethal, data shows04/05/2021 Fatality rates on all lane running (ALR) ‘smart motorways’ have exceeded those on conventional motorways for the past two years, with 15 people now confirmed to have died on motorways without a permanent hard shoulder in 2019. |
Shapps slammed over safety review hold-up09/03/2020 Ministers have been criticised for failing to conclude a review of smart motorways that was announced in the Autumn. |
Highways England facing bill of millions for smart motorway retrofit03/02/2020 With the publication of a review of smart motorway all lane running (ALR) schemes ‘imminent’, Highways England is facing costs running into millions of pounds to retrofit new safety measures to schemes that remain in construction. |
Widow to launch legal challenge over all lane running22/01/2020 The widow of a driver killed on a Smart Motorway has instructed lawyers to begin work on a legal challenge calling for them to be scrapped. |
Watchdog tells Highways England to up its game on safety11/11/2019 The head of the national transport consumer watchdog has called on Highways England to do more to improve the safety of ‘smart motorways’, including speeding up the roll-out of stopped vehicle detection. |
AA says only one in 10 feel safer on smart motorways15/10/2019 Only one in 10 drivers say they feel safer on all lane running (ALR) smart motorway schemes compared to a traditional motorway, according to a study by the AA. |
Drivers are 'sitting ducks': 17 minutes to spot live lane breakdowns30/08/2019 Highways England's control centres can take an average of 17 minutes to spot a broken down vehicle in a live lane of an all lane running ‘smart’ motorway when Stationary Vehicle Detection (SVD) systems are not in place. |
Kier reaches safety milestone on smart motorways schemes15/08/2019 Two Kier Highways all lane running smart motorway projects have worked over one million hours without a reportable injury. |
King calls smart motorway breakdowns 'terrifying' as safety boost stalls16/04/2019 The president of the AA has criticised Highways England for not acting quickly enough to improve safety on ‘smart motorway’ all lane running schemes, including shortening the distance between emergency refuge areas for broken-down vehicles. |
£256m upgrade 'makes M6 fit for the future'09/04/2019 Highways England has completed a £265m project to add extra lanes and new technology to a 19-mile stretch of the M6, which it called the most significant change since the motorway first opened in Cheshire in 1963. |
Arch enemy of M6 upgrade to bite the dust21/02/2019 Highways England will close the M6 for around 18 hours next month to take down an arch bridge standing in the way of an all lane running scheme. |
M6 bridge to come down to make room for all lane running16/08/2018 Highways England has announced plans to remove a 150-tonne section of concrete bridge across the M6 in one piece to make room for an all lane running smart motorway. |
TSC: Do not ignore smart motorway safety concerns29/09/2016 The Transport Select Committee says the government must not ignore safety concerns presented by its recent All lane running report. |
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