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Smart motorways

National Highways apologises after smart motorways go offline for two hours

Published 22 February 2023
By David Mullen
Two safety-critical systems for the control of smart motorways failed for two hours this morning.
Smart motorway construction

Fraud fears over motorway construction

National Highways has written to construction companies asking them to outline the anti-fraud practices they have in place.
Published 13 July 2022
Smart motorway roadworks speed limit to increase from 50mph to 60mph

Smart motorway rollout paused

The government is to suspend the rollout of new smart motorways until at least 2025 amid concerns by safety campaigners and MPs.
Published 12 January 2022
Smart motorway

Crash at smart motorway while widow visits site

The widow of a man who died on a smart motorway witnessed a motorway crash near the scene of her husband's accident while having her photo taken.
Published 27 September 2021
Inoperative smart motorway cameras mean motorists go unpunished for driving in closed lanes

British drivers want smart motorways scrapped

Nearly two thirds of drivers believe that variable hard shoulder use in so-called “smart” motorways should be scrapped, according to the RAC.
Published 15 September 2021
Return of hard shoulder to motorways would endanger drivers, says government minister

Return of hard shoulder 'risks 25 extra deaths'

Reinstalling hard shoulders on smart motorways may cause at least 25 extra road deaths per year, according to a government minister.
Published 01 July 2021
Smart motorway development paused after legal threat

New smart motorway paused after legal threat

The development of a new smart motorway across the Pennines has been paused after a retired vicar threatened a legal challenge.
Published 14 June 2021
No new smart motorways to open without stopped vehicle detection system installed

All new smart motorways must have stopped car tech

Every new section of smart motorway designated as "all-lane running" (ALR) must include technology that can automatically spot broken down cars.
Published 21 April 2021
Government faces legal action over safety of smart motorways

Government faces legal action over smart motorways

A law firm has threatened legal action against the government unless "all lanes running" (ALR) smart motorways are abandoned.
Published 06 April 2021
Inoperative smart motorway cameras mean motorists go unpunished for driving in closed lanes

Drivers in closed motorway lanes go unpunished

Motorists are escaping punishment for committing traffic offences on smart motorways due to a lack of working enforcement cameras.
Published 03 March 2021
Smart motorway safety tech only installed on 37 miles of network

Safety tech only on 37 miles of smart motorway

A system designed to make smart motorways safer has only been installed on 37 miles of the network since it was announced in March 2020.
Published 20 January 2021
Coroner calls for review of smart motorways after M1 deaths

Coroner calls for review of smart motorways

A coroner has called for a review of smart motorways after two men died on a stretch of the M1 near Sheffield without a hard shoulder.
Published 19 January 2021
Experts link £25m rise in statutory vehicle recovery to smart motorways

Drivers foot £25m bill for smart motorway recovery

A 33% rise in cars recovered under "statutory removal" powers over the last five years has been linked to smart motorways by experts.
Published 07 October 2020