New smart motorways roll-out halted amid safety concerns

The UK Government has paused the roll-out of all lane running (ALR) smart motorways amid doubts over their safety.

The Department for Transport said it would halt the introduction of the controversial roads until five years’ worth of safety data has been collected and analysed.

Concerns have repeatedly been raised over the safety of the roads, which use the hard shoulder as a permanent live traffic lane, and in November MPs said the Government had been “premature” in declaring that all new smart motorways would be ALR.

The Commons Transport Select Committee said that there was not enough safety or economic data to justify continuing the smart motorway roll-out and called for a pause while more information was gathered.