Third of drivers feel unsafe on smart motorways

The smart motorway on the M4 in Berkshire "doesn't feel safe", according to one in three drivers surveyed by the AA.

A new survey by the breakdown company, based in Basingstoke, showed more than 13,500 drivers suggested a third of recipients felt "unsafe" on these types of motorways.

On smart motorways the hard shoulder is another driving lane, and emergency areas are placed individually across the routes.

National Highways said data showed smart motorways were the safest roads in the country.

A smart motorway is a section of motorway that uses technology to manage traffic flow, and reduce congestion.

The first smart motorway was trialled on the M42 in 2006, with the opening of the hard shoulder to traffic at times of peak congestion.

Motoring journalist Maria McCarthy said: "I think a lot of people have felt very sceptical and anti-smart motorways since they were introduced and since then there has been lots of concerns and deaths that could have been preventable.

"National Highways latest figures suggest that if you breakdown on a smart motorway without a hard shoulder that you are three times more likely to be killed or seriously injured."

National Highways said many more new emergency areas were being installed, and statistically smart motorways were the safest kind of road.

Ms McCarthy said: "I think traditionally we have always had a hard shoulder and it's been there for a reason.

"If you are in any sort of difficulty, if you run out of fuel, always pull over to the hard shoulder and I think that gives people a sense of comfort."

Ms McCarthy explained: "The technology doesn't always work, there is a thing called stopped vehicle detection which is meant to work out if somebody is in difficulties.

"That is then conveyed to the control room and it takes another three minutes for the big red cross sign to be switched on."

In 2022, Pulvinder Dhillon, a 68-year-old grandmother, was killed after her car broke down on the M4 westbound near Theale, in lane four.

Ms Dhillon's story was covered in a look into smart-motorways by the BBC's Panorama team.

The team spoke with families who said they were let down by the technology that was meant to save their loved ones.

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