Smart motorway inaction criticised by campaigner

A campaigner has criticised the government for failing to step in and scrap smart motorways.

Claire Mercer, whose husband died on a smart motorway, said the Labour government was the latest to display inaction, despite being outspoken on the issue while in opposition.

Louise Haigh, the transport secretary, called for smart motorways to be abandoned as recently as April 2023, calling them "not fit for purpose".

The Department for Transport said it "will not roll out any new smart motorways".

Mrs Mercer's husband Jason Mercer, 44, and Alexandru Murgeanu, 22, died on the M1 near Sheffield in 2019.

They had pulled over to exchange details after a minor collision.

"We've had so many reviews," Mrs Mercer, from Rotherham, said.

"We've had everything - we're just paying a lot of people to sit around talking while people die."

• What are smart motorways and are they dangerous?

Smart motorways were designed to ease traffic flow, with some using the hard shoulder as an extra lane.

Technology is used to regulate traffic flow and ease congestion, but critics claim the use of the hard shoulder has led to road deaths.

Mrs Mercer said previous governments have also promised change, but have not delivered.

"All five prime ministers have climbed over other people promising to scrap smart motorways," she said, calling Labour "no different".

"They've done exactly what the last four did."

A Department for Transport spokesperson said: "We have been clear we will not roll out any new smart motorways.

"The safety of everyone travelling on our roads is a top priority for this government."

It added: "We will deliver a comprehensive new road safety strategy – the first in over a decade – to reduce tragic deaths and injuries on our roads, and will set out next steps on smart motorways in due course."

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