A Yorkshire smart motorway which has featured in two recent inquests should be scrapped following another serious crash in which a person had to be airlifted to hospital, a police boss has said.

By Lucy Leeson Tuesday, 16th February 2021, 5:06 pm

Updated Tuesday, 16th February 2021, 5:10 pm

The occupant of a stationary car in a live lane on the M1 had to be rushed to hospital with serious injuries after a lorry collided with the vehicle last Friday afternoon.

South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner Dr Alan Billings has repeatedly criticised the smart motorway on the M1 which has no hard shoulder on that stretch, labelling it “inherently dangerous”.

Dr Billings said: “I said that as long as it remained in place it was a constant danger to anyone unfortunate enough either to break down in it or to be travelling along it when another vehicle had broken down.

“Since then we have had two coroners raise serious concerns about the smart motorway in South Yorkshire and I have written to the Secretary of State for Transport expressing my grave concerns.”

Read more at https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/police-boss-calls-smart-motorways-be-scrapped-after-another-serious-crash-yorkshire-3136968

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The boss of Highways England is to stand down after criticism over the smart motorway policy.

Jim O’Sullivan, one of the country’s highest paid transport officials, will leave the state-funded company responsible for operating England’s motorways early next year.

The move follows a turbulent 12 months at the organisation, which has been at the centre of a row over the roll-out of smart motorways, routes where the hard shoulder has been removed to create extra capacity.

Exerpt

Mr O’Sullivan, who was paid £456,727 in 2018-19, a rise of 13.5 per cent in 12 months, repeatedly pointed to Highways England data showing that the safety record of smart roads was better than conventional routes.

However, public confidence in the system was heavily dented after a series of high-profile deaths, including of drivers who broke down without being able to reach a lay-by.

Read more at: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/highways-england-boss-jim-osullivan-stands-down-amid-smart-motorways-furore-ckz9mz2cs?fbclid=IwAR2HiinWyYdBh5QCZG-7yhklcZgIO9vgDu7wAUWPfjma8QLBMIwmNY7_p1A#

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Source: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/jan/30/rollout-of-smart-motorways-put-on-hold-amid-safety-concerns?fbclid=IwAR3T8VljMQ8JJOFvGQj8zCkApBXKgk0AX_6FJxtUWkEeUOz08cxHk5DsbBc

Smart motorways are part of a plan by Highways England to reduce congestion. The routes feature technology designed to monitor traffic levels, change speed limits and close lanes to allow emergency vehicles through.

Our comment: “smart” is not always better.

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