Smart motorway

This article is about a motorway scheme used in the United Kingdom. For other countries, see active traffic management.

A control room for the M25 J5-7 Smart Motorways scheme, 2014

A smart motorway (formerly managed motorway and active traffic management), also known in Scotland as an intelligent transport system, is a section of motorway in the United Kingdom (primarily in England) that employs active traffic management (ATM) techniques to increase capacity through the use of MIDAS technology including variable speed limits and occasionally hard shoulder running and ramp metering at busy times. They were developed at the turn of the 21st century as a cost-effective alternative to traditional carriageway widening, with intended benefits ranging from more reliable journey times to lower vehicle emissions.[1][2][3] However, despite the risk of a collision occurring between two moving vehicles being found to be decreased, there has been an acknowledged rise in the incidence of collisions involving vehicles where at least one was stationary in the first few years following the widespread removal of the hard shoulder on the country's busiest sections of motorway.[4] Smart motorways garnered intense criticism from politicians, police representatives and motoring organisations, particularly from 2020 onwards, after a surge in near miss incidents and dozens of fatalities were revealed,[5][6] and as of April 2023, no new smart motorways will be built.[7]

The term controlled motorway is sometimes used for schemes that use variable speed limits without hard-shoulder running (for example, the M25 motorway between junction 27 and junction 30).

History

The traffic management technique, including hard shoulder running, was first used in its full specification in the UK on the M42 motorway in the West Midlands in 2006.[8][3] A higher speed limit of 60 miles per hour (97 km/h) was trialled on the southbound carriageway between junctions 4 and 3A from 2008 (a 10 miles per hour (16 km/h) increase on the previous maximum permissible speed).[9]

In 2007 plans were announced by the then secretary of state for transport, Ruth Kelly, to extend the scheme to two sections of the M6 motorway near Birmingham (4-5 and 8a-10) by 2011 at a cost of £150 million.[10][11] The emergency refuges were to be extended to every 800 metres (0.50 mi) on the roll out.[12] A study into the use of ATM on the M1, M4, M20 and M25 motorways was also announced,[10] however the Department for Transport had decided to proceed with a scheme to widen sections of the M25.[13]

A £2 billion contract was announced to extend the scheme to sections of the M1, M4, M5, M6, M60 and M62 in February 2010[14] with a further announcement by the new government in October 2010.[15] The contract was awarded to four delivery partners Balfour Beatty, Carillion and joint ventures BAM Nuttall/Morgan Sindall and Costain Group/Serco.[16] In January 2012, Carillion won the contract for M6 junctions 5 - 8 near Birmingham for £126 million.[16]

From 2013 the current term smart motorway was used by the Highways Agency (now National Highways) to promote the technology to road users.[17]

In January 2018, the contracts previously awarded to Carillion were taken on by Kier, following the former's entry into compulsory liquidation.[18]

In April 2021, the government announced that new smart motorways would include radar, to detect vehicles which had stopped, and additional cameras to aid the detection (and subsequent prosecution) of motorists using lanes which are marked as being closed. The government stated that existing smart motorways would have these additional safety features installed by September 2022.[19]

On 16 April 2023, the government announced that the smart motorways scheme would be halted permanently, citing "financial pressures and lack of confidence felt by drivers".[7]

Features

Emergency refuge areas

"Emergency refuge area" redirects here. For the type of refuge in buildings, see area of refuge.
The new emergency area sign being trialled on smart motorways

In 2017, Highways England trialled a new type of emergency area on the M3 that would be more visibly obvious to motorists.[20] A new sign accompanied the trial which is similar in design to European emergency area signs. These changes have subsequently been trialled on the M5 and M25 with the signs being authorised by the Department for Transport for further use.[21][22]

Emergency stopping areas, when used correctly, are safer than hard shoulders.[4]: para 2.47  However, the government has subsequently reduced the specification of smart motorway design, increasing the minimum interval between refuge areas,[23] possibly decreasing the likelihood of a driver being able to reach a place of relative safety in the event of a breakdown.

Stopped vehicle detection

Some (18% in 2019) smart motorways employ stopped vehicle detection (SVD). The government states that all lane running motorways are designed to operate safely without the need for SVD, however SVD reduces the time it takes for National Highways control room staff to close the traffic lane to just one minute.[23]: 9 

Text messages

Early systems used dot matrix signs on gantries to display short text messages, with smaller variable signs above each lane and to the sides of the carriageway. Current smart motorway systems often use the "MS4" sign type[24] which can include pictograms from the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions.

Variable lane control

Further information: Lane control lights

To close a lane to traffic, the motorway gantries display a red cross (❌) to signify a lane closure. The red cross is a legal requirement for motorists under section 36(1) of the Road Traffic Act 1988 (failure to comply with a traffic sign), and failure to comply can result in a fixed penalty of £100 fine and three points.[25] but can be penalised with a fine of up to £1,000 and a 56 day driving ban if prosecuted in court.

Compliance is at 92%, which has not decreased since 2019. Road users want to see a 'zero tolerance' approach towards vehicles disobeying a red cross.[23]

Effectiveness

Reduced relative cost

In 2007 it was estimated that ATM could be introduced within two years at a cost of around £5-15 million per mile[26] as opposed to 10 years and £79 million per mile for widening.[27][28]

In Autumn 2018, alteration of the M4 between junctions 3 and 12 was commenced, a length of 32 miles (51 km). Construction was completed in March 2022, but as of July 2022 calibration work of some sections is still underway. The cost was £848 million, representing £26.5 million per mile (£16.6 million per km). Emergency stopping areas in this section of the M4 have been provided every 1.3 miles (2.1 km).[29]

Initial experiments

The M42 scheme was initially run as an experiment and a Highways Agency report into the first six months of the scheme showed a reduction in variability of journey times of up to 27%.[10][12] The journey time statistics can be broken down to show that northbound journey times were reduced by 26%, equating to an average reduction of 4 minutes as compared to the period when the variable speed limits were on, but the hard shoulder was not being used, and 9% southbound (equating to 1 minute) during the afternoon rush hour.[30] The report also indicated a fall in the number of accidents from over 5 a month to 1.5 per month on average.[10][12] The Agency did state that normally accident statistics should be compared over a 3-year period, so the initial results should be treated with caution. They also stated that no accidents had been caused by hard shoulder use as a normal lane.[30] The report also stated that there had been a 10% fall in pollution and 4% fall in fuel consumption.[10] The report also indicated a compliance rate of 98% to the indicated speed limits when using the hard shoulder.[30] For comparison, before the introduction of mandatory speed limits at road works, the compliance rate was 10% as opposed to 89% afterwards, showing a similar effect.[31]

Road capacity

All lane running motorway upgrades improve journey capacity. The Government argues that this improves safety as it encourages drivers away from statistically more dangerous rural or A roads. A smart motorway can carry 1,600 additional vehicles per hour in each direction, and up to 11,000 journeys a day.[32]

In the short term, smart motorway upgrades can reduce journey times. For example, on the M6 around Crewe, the average commuting time decreased by an average of 40 minutes.[32]

Public opinion

A 2022 survey found that 73% of drivers will not use the leftmost lane on a smart motorway. This is an increase since 2019 (56%).[33]

According to the RAC, 'only 23% of drivers trust that the highways authority can identify a stopped vehicle and respond accordingly'.[23]: 7 

In 2022, 22% of drivers say they do not feel confident on motorways without a hard shoulder. This is compared to 12% on motorways with a hard shoulder and 8% on dual carriageways (normally without a hard shoulder).[34]

Emergency refuge areas are currently provided up to 2.5 km apart. 63% of drivers believed this is too far and 79% of drivers are concerned they would not be able to reach a refuge in time.[23]: 8 

Emergency vehicle access

There is some concern over the ability of emergency services and traffic patrol officers to access incidents on smart motorways when traffic is congested.[23]

Safety

Motorways are the safest roads in Great Britain, with more Killed or Seriously Injured (KSI) collisions recorded on A roads.[4] Theoretically, smart motorways are designed to reduce certain types of risks through several features. For instance, traffic speeds tend to be more uniform, and technology is in place to monitor and notify drivers of potential hazards. Moreover, the emergency areas are intended to provide a safer place to stop compared to traditional hard shoulders.[4]: para 4.5 

Overall, Government statistics show that ALR smart motorways register well on safety performance. Statistics demonstrate a decrease in personal injury collision and casualty rates compared with the national trend. On individual conversions, a decrease in recorded after introduction of ALR. There was effectively no change in the Killed & Seriously Injured collision and casualty rates.[35] However, Highways Magazine revealed that in the long-term, smart motorways may become more dangerous because the extra space they create is taken up by increased traffic.[36]

All lane running (ALR) schemes - whereby the hard shoulder is removed - appear to be more unsafe because they design out the current principal safety mechanism on motorways - the hard shoulder. An independent review concluded that it is beyond doubt that the removal of a hard shoulder is less safe than any other form of 'smart' motorway.[37]

All casualties

According to a 2012 analysis by Highways England, ALR motorways were expected to lower risks by 20% when compared to conventional, three-lane motorways.[4]: para 4.7 Highways England and the Department for Transport monitored both slight and serious casualties between 2015 and 2018. The statistics revealed a small uptick in serious and slight casualties, but a slight decline in fatal casualties. However, accuracy is limited because road comparisons may not be entirely comparable.[4] Per 100 million miles travelled, the following were measured –

Annual average casualties per 100,000,000 vehicle miles travelled, by SRN road type (2015-2018 average)[4]: 44–45 
Fatal casualties Serious casualties Slight casualties
Conventional roads
Strategic A roads 0.46 3 20
Conventional motorway 0.16 1.1 10
Smart motorway
Controlled 0.06 1.2 18
Dynamic hard shoulder 0.06 1.2 19
All lane running 0.11 1.3 12

When examining individual sections of motorway before and after their conversion to ALR, statistics reveal that the risk of relative personal injury collisions (among the top 21 hazards or 90 per cent of the total risk) decreased to approximately 81 per cent of the previous total. Although there was an increase in vehicles stopping in the running lane, hazards that lead to personal injuries, such as speeding, tailgating and drifting off the carriageway, were significantly reduced.[4]: 47  However, a study showed that the installation of a smart motorway on the M6 did not reduce the impact of accidents and, in fact, caused a 50% increase in accidents over five years.[36]

Stopped vehicle collisions

Most collisions which occur on the road network occur between moving, rather than stopped, traffic. For example, on all-lane running motorways between 2016 and 2020, 76 collisions happened involving at least one stopped vehicle and 1,370 happened involving no stopped vehicles.[35]

Emergency stopping areas, when used correctly, are safer than hard shoulders. On hard shoulders, there remains a risk from personal safety. 1 of every 14 fatal casualties on English motorways occur to vehicles on, leaving or entering the hard shoulder.[34] For instance in 2017, there were 100 casualties on the hard shoulder.[4]: para 2.47  According to Highways England, there is a reduction in personal injury collisions in 'places of relative safety' (i.e. not in an operational traffic lane) when ALR is in use.[4]: para 2.49  However, the Government has reduced the specification of smart motorway design, increasing the minimum interval between refuge areas,[23] possibly decreasing the likelihood of a driver being able to reach a place of relative safety.

When ALR is in use, the risk of breaking down in a live lane as a proportion of total breakdowns doubles, compared with motorways with a permanent hard shoulder, and increases, compared with motorways with a dynamic hard shoulder.[4] Between 2016 and 2020, 243,701 live lane breakdowns occurred on the strategic road network. More than half of these took place on motorways with a hard shoulder, though live lane breakdowns are less likely to be recorded on non-smart than smart motorways.[34] It is still lower proportional risk than breaking down on an A-road. The chance of a collision when broken down in a live lane is small.[4] On ALR schemes, an average of two live lane breakdown collisions occur on each section each year (making up 17% of all KSI collisions).[35] Therefore, it can be said that while the risk of breaking down in a live lane increases, the risk of collision when broken down in a safer place decreases.[4]

Fatalities

Fatalities on motorways in England (2016-2020)[34]: 43 
Type Fatalities (casualty per hmvm)
Conventional motorway 0.15
All-lane running 0.12
Dynamic hard shoulder 0.09
Controlled motorway 0.07
A-roads 0.41

From 2015 and 2020, at least 38 fatalities were attributed to smart motorways.[5] This is a proportion of total fatalities on the motorway network, which varies year on year. For example, there were 77 motorway deaths in 2015.[5] In 2020, 0.64% of total fatalities on England's road network took place on ALR and dynamic hard shoulder motorways, which collectively carried 3.29% of traffic in England.[34] Per mile travelled, fatal casualty rates are a third higher on conventional motorways.[32]

However, according to Highways Magazine, DfT data shows that the fatality rate on ALR motorways is higher than conventional motorways. In 2018, the ALR 'live lane' fatality rate was 0.19 per 100,000,000 vehicle miles, compared to 0.14 on conventional motorways. However in 2019, it was 0.14 and 0.13 respectively.[32][38] In 2015, 2016 and 2017, death rates were lower on ALR roads.[38]

In September 2018, a woman was killed after her car broke down in an area with no hard shoulder and was hit by another vehicle. Warning signs were not activated until 22 minutes after the breakdown, and the coroner criticised the smart motorway system for not making it clear to drivers that "the onus is on them" to report breakdowns.[39]

Criticisms

The Campaign for Better Transport argued that whilst it would reduce the need for widening schemes, it did nothing to reduce traffic and CO2 emissions. Friends of the Earth criticised the scheme as "widening on the cheap" and also pointed to a possible increase in vehicle emissions.[10] Highways England argue that ATM reduces the environmental impact in regards to widening as it is carried out within the existing boundaries of the motorway as well as a possible improvement in local air quality due to smoother traffic flow.[40]

The RAC cited a study in the Netherlands that showed drivers using the hard shoulder when they were not permitted, increasing the risk of a collision for vehicles stopped. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents also expressed concern that emergency services would take longer to reach an incident.[28] The Highways Agency rejected this concern based on the 5,000 miles (8,000 km) of dual carriageway that does not have a hard shoulder.[41] Disability groups were concerned that some drivers would not be able to access the emergency phones or even exit their vehicles, leaving them at increased risk.[41] Ruth Kelly, former Secretary of State for Transport stated that these schemes were useful, but that motorway widening would still be considered where it was appropriate.[28]

The scheme has attracted criticism from motoring organisations such as the AA, who in 2018 reported that many members were concerned that speed limits were being imposed without good cause in situations where traffic was light.[42] In response, Highways England stated that they had "started a comprehensive review of how variable speed limits are set, including the amount of time they are visible to drivers".[42]

A campaign "Smart Motorways Kill" was set up in 2019 after the death of Jason Mercer and Alexandru Murgeanu on the M1 northbound near junction 34. They were killed when a heavy goods vehicle collided with their stationary vehicles, after they had pulled over following a minor accident.[43][44] The lane they were in was not closed until after they were killed. The campaign is bringing a judicial review against Highways England to have smart motorways banned and they have also reported H.E to the police for criminal manslaughter. They are also looking at bringing a disability discrimination complaint and class action.

In January 2020, it was announced that a review was planned after freedom of information requests showed that near misses had increased up to 20-fold, and that 38 people had died. The emergency refuge areas (ERA) were placed 500 metres (0.31 mi) apart on the M42 pilot scheme, but can be 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) apart on stretches of the M25.[45][46]

A BBC Panorama aired on 27 January 2020 alleged that smart motorways had caused multiple deaths in the UK, and that the conversion of part of the M25 to "all-lane running" yielded a 2000% increase in hazardous "near misses".

On 28 January 2020 Police Federation of England and Wales chief, reported The Times newspaper, John Apter said he "did not like the term 'smart motorways'" because it infers that they are a good idea. "They’re anything but" and "a recipe for disaster. It’s a death trap. It’s inherently dangerous and putting lives at risk."[47]

In January 2020, all "Smart Motorways" were put under review to address safety concerns and determine an action plan. No new such motorways would open until this review was published. On 12 March 2020, the review and action plan was published. It stated changes to the standards for new smart motorways (ones which had not started construction) such as a reduction from up to 1.5 miles to 1 mile between emergency refuge areas (or other qualifying areas) and stranded vehicle detection radars to be installed as part of the project. Other actions it required to be taken is for all Dynamic Hard Shoulder Motorways to be converted into All-Lane-Running by March 2025, Stranded Vehicle Detection radars to be installed on all Smart Motorways within 36 months & a potential national programme to install more ERAs on current smart motorways.[48]

In 2021, Labour Police and Crime Commissioner from South Yorkshire Alan Billings criticised smart motorways.[49][50] The same year, the government announced the retrofitting of the entire network with radar and improved cameras, and paused the construction of any more smart motorways until this was implemented.[51]

On 16 April 2023, the Government announced that no new smart motorways would be built. The Transport Secretary at the time, Mark Harper, cited "the lack of public confidence felt by drivers and the cost pressures due to inflation".[7] Existing smart motorways would have additional emergency areas fitted. However, the M56 J6-8 and M6 J21a-26 schemes will be completed, given they are already over three-quarters of the way complete.

In April 2024, the safety of smart motorways was again brought into question when it was revealed that the technology used to detect broken down vehicles was often failing. A Freedom of Information request revealed that at some locations, cameras and radar detection was out of action for up to five days at a time.


Current smart motorways

A map of the UK's smart motorway system built from publicly available data of constructed and planned smart motorway systems

The map in this section visually represents the operational and under construction elements of the UK's smart motorway system as of June 2017.[52]

National Highways (England), the South Wales Trunk Road Agent (there are no motorways in North Wales), DfI Roads (Northern Ireland) and Transport Scotland are responsible for the construction and maintenance of smart motorways in their respective countries.[53]

Controlled motorway

A section of controlled motorway on the M25 in Hertfordshire

Variable speed limits with the hard shoulder operating as it would on a conventional motorway. They have most often been installed where a motorway has previously been widened but with a discontinuous hard shoulder to incorporate existing bridges, therefore using the hard shoulder as a running lane is ruled out. Existing gantries are upgraded to support signals capable of displaying a mandatory speed limit and speed cameras.

Locations

Notes
  1. ^
    1: J4-J5 upgraded from controlled motorway to all-lane running in 2020.
  2. ^
    2: A bus lane is in operation on the southbound hard-shoulder between J1a and J2a and on the approach to the southbound M9. The hard shoulders on the Queensferry Crossing are opened to buses when the Forth Road Bridge is closed.

Dynamic hard shoulder running

M42 with hard shoulder running in the West Midlands. It is shown as closed while the ordinary lanes have a mandatory 40mph speed limit.

Variable speed limits with the hard shoulder selectively opened as a running lane during periods when traffic levels are too high for only three lanes of running traffic. When activated, vehicles can use the hard shoulder as a running lane. All lanes are limited to a maximum of 60 mph, but these can be lowered further.

In October 2019, the chief executive of Highways England told MPs that the company has no plans to introduce the configuration to any further section of motorway, after admitting that motorists found the setup 'too confusing' to use.[73] A study conducted in the previous month found that more than half of motorists surveyed would not drive on a hard shoulder even if it was open.[74]

A stocktake taken in March 2021 confirmed that all DHSR smart motorways would end the use of them by March 2025 by converting all current DHSR to ALR,[75] but these conversions will now not be carried out, following the withdrawal of all Smart Motorway schemes in April 2023.[7]

Locations

All lane running

A stretch of the M25 in Hertfordshire, where the motorway operates as four-lane running without a hard shoulder between J23-27

Variable speed limits with the hard shoulder removed and converted to a permanent running lane.

Locations

Notes
  1. ^
    1: Includes upgrade of J4-J5 from controlled motorway to all-lane running.

Through-junction running

Isolated stretches on a smart motorway where the hard shoulder becomes a permanent running lane through a junction and immediately surrounding the slip roads.

Locations

Smart motorways by geographic area

England

Northern Ireland

Scotland

Under construction

The following scheme is under construction and the last smart motorway project to be built:

Withdrawn schemes

Due to the decision to permanently halt the smart motorways scheme, announced on 16 April 2023, all planned schemes have now been withdrawn.[7]

The above sections of motorway were included in the first five-year road investment strategy published in December 2014,[56] however they have been removed from the second and current strategy.[108] Sections of the M1 in Leicestershire and Yorkshire were also billed to receive undescribed 'capacity improvements' in the third road period beginning in 2025,[108] though these have also been withdrawn as part of the April 2023 announcement that construction of new smart motorways was being halted.

The M4 between junctions 24 and 28 near Newport in south Wales had its variable speed limit replaced with a permanent average speed camera-enforced 50 mph limit in early 2021. The Welsh Government believed that changing to a fixed limit would better reduce congestion and improve the quality of the air in the town.[109]

Timeline of introduction

1995

  • M25: J10-J15 (SI 1995/1094, Cost: £13.5 million (equivalent to £33 million in 2023), Length: 14 miles)[110]

2001

2005

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2015

2016

  • M1: J16-J19 (SI 2016/437, Cost: £65.4 million (equivalent to £90 million in 2023), Length: 14 miles)[115]
  • M62: J9-J11 (eastbound) (SI 2016/988, Cost: £7 million (equivalent to £10 million in 2023), Length: 3 miles)[71]

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

  • M6: J13-J15 (SI 2021/116, Cost: £232.3-£335.4 million, Length: 16 miles)[125]
  • M27: J4-J11 (SI 2021/17, Cost: £244 million (equivalent to £290 million in 2023), Length: 14 miles)[126]

2023

  • All remaining proposed Smart Motorway schemes are permanently withdrawn, although M56 J6-8 and M6 J21a-26 are allowed to continue to completion.[7]

2025

Notes

  1. ^ J4-J5 upgraded from controlled motorway to all-lane running in 2020.
  2. ^ Including Toddington services 1 mile to the south.
  3. ^ lane 1 opened in October 2024, but with the 50 mph limit intact. It is due to raise to 70 mph by spring 2025
  4. ^ Planned as part of improvements to junction 18 of the motorway.
  5. ^ a b M40/M42 joint scheme.
  6. ^ Continuous section.
  7. ^ Revoked and replaced by SI 2012/2134.
  8. ^ Amended by SI 2009/1568.
  9. ^ North to south in Belfast.
  10. ^ a b Amended by SI 2013/482.
  11. ^ Revoked and replaced by WSI 2015/1018, itself revoked by WSI 2021/101.
  12. ^ Amended by SI 2013/482 and SI 2016/1033.
  13. ^ Originally a spur of the M9.
  14. ^ Originally junction 1 before the motorway was extended south upon the opening of the Queensferry Crossing.
  15. ^ Amended by SSI 2017/128.
  16. ^ a b M4/M5 joint scheme.
  17. ^ a b M60/M62 joint scheme.
  18. ^ Including Queensferry Crossing.
  19. ^ Amended by SI 2018/1044.

References

  1. ^ "M20 Junctions 4 - 7 Controlled Motorways". Archived from the original on 10 August 2012.
  2. ^ "Highways England - Our Road Network". Archived from the original on 24 December 2012.
  3. ^ a b c "Active Traffic Management". www.highways.gov.uk. Highways Agency. Archived from the original on 3 March 2010. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Smart Motorway Safety. Evidence Stocktake and Action Plan" (PDF). gov.uk.
  5. ^ a b c "38 killed on smart motorways in last five years". BBC News. 26 January 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  6. ^ Allen, James (29 January 2020). "Smart motorways labelled death traps by Police Federation chairman". The Sunday Times Driving. Sunday Times Driving Limited. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  7. ^ a b c d e f "All new smart motorways scrapped". GOV.UK. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  8. ^ "Managed Motorways". www.highways.gov.uk. Highways Agency. November 2009. Archived from the original on 6 June 2011.
  9. ^ "60mph speed limit on the M42 Active Traffic Management pilot". www.dft.gov.uk. Department for Transport. Archived from the original on 6 August 2008. Retrieved 10 December 2008.
  10. ^ a b c d e f "'Extra lane' plan to be extended". BBC News. British Broadcasting Corporation. 25 October 2007. Retrieved 31 December 2007.
  11. ^ "M42 Active Traffic Management Scheme, Birmingham". www.roadtraffic-technology.com. Verdict Media. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  12. ^ a b c Meikle, James (26 October 2007). "Kelly extends experiment to let drivers use hard shoulder". The Guardian. London: Guardian News and Media Limited. Retrieved 31 December 2007.
  13. ^ Milmo, Dan (24 December 2007). "Plan to open up hard shoulder on M25 to ease traffic shelved". The Guardian. London: Guardian News and Media Limited. Retrieved 31 December 2007.
  14. ^ "£2 Billion In Managed Motorway Schemes Starts On UK Highways". GovMonitor. 18 February 2010. Archived from the original on 6 March 2012.
  15. ^ "Transport Secretary gives the go-ahead to 24 New Schemes and announces over £600M of further funding". Department for Transport. 26 October 2010. Archived from the original on 30 October 2010.
  16. ^ a b Bottom, Hannah (3 January 2012). "Carillion scoops £126M Managed Motorway scheme". New Civil Engineer. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  17. ^ Marshall, Chris. "Smart Motorways". www.roads.org.uk. roads.org.uk. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
  18. ^ Curry, Rihannon (22 January 2018). "Kier takes on Carillion staff for HS2 and motorways work". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  19. ^ Topham, Gwyn (20 April 2021). "Government promises radar on UK smart motorways to detect stopped vehicles". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  20. ^ "Orange is the new grey". Roads.org.uk. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  21. ^ "Orange appeal". Roads.org.uk. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  22. ^ "Emergency Refuge Areas, Smart Motorways M3 J2-4a, M5 J4a-6 & M25 J23-27, Highways England" (PDF). Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  23. ^ a b c d e f g Third Report - Rollout and safety of smart motorways. House of Commons, Transport Committee Inquiry, The roll-out and safety of smart motorways. 2 November 2021, link accessed 4 May 2022.
  24. ^ Highways England http://www.standardsforhighways.co.uk/ha/standards/ians/pdfs/ian109.pdf
  25. ^ "Offences for which penalty notices are available". Sentencing Council for England and Wales.
  26. ^ Cleland, Gary (26 December 2007). "No hard shoulder driving on M25". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 31 December 2007.[dead link‍]
  27. ^ Webster, Ben (25 October 2007). "Hard-shoulder driving lies ahead for motorways in effort to reduce congestion". The Times. London: News International Limited. Retrieved 31 December 2007.
  28. ^ a b c Strange, Hannah; Ben Webster (25 October 2007). "Hard shoulder scheme cut journey times on motorways". Times Online. London: News International Limited. Retrieved 31 December 2007.
  29. ^ url=https://nationalhighways.co.uk/our-roads/south-east/m4-junctions-3-12-smart-motorway/
  30. ^ a b c Highways Agency (25 October 2007). "M42 Active Traffic Management Results –First Six Months" (PDF). Department for Transport. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 March 2008. Retrieved 31 December 2007.
  31. ^ Murray, Louise (26 October 2005). "Smooth-flowing traffic is on the way". Society - The Guardian. London: Guardian News and Media Limited. Retrieved 31 December 2007.
  32. ^ a b c d Written evidence submitted by the Department for Transport (RSM0113). committees.parliament.uk. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  33. ^ "73% of drivers avoid left lane on smart motorways". Auto Express. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  34. ^ a b c d e Smart motorways stocktake: Second year progress report 2022. National Highways, May 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  35. ^ a b c "Smart Motorway All Lane Running Overarching Safety Report 2019". GOV.UK. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  36. ^ a b "Highways Magazine - Smart motorway sees crashes rise 50% in five years". www.highwaysmagazine.co.uk. 13 July 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  37. ^ Independent Review of All Lane Running Motorways in England. Royal Haskoning DHV. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  38. ^ a b Moore, Catherine (5 May 2021). "Higher death rate recorded on smart motorways compared to hard shoulder roads, new figures show". New Civil Engineer. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  39. ^ "Smart motorways: Highways England referred to CPS over M1 death". BBC News. 11 February 2021. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  40. ^ "How does it affect the environment?". M42 Jct 3a - Jct 7 Active Traffic Management. Highways Agency. Retrieved 31 December 2007.
  41. ^ a b Sturcke, James; Agencies (31 August 2006). "Motorway hard-shoulder use 'could cost lives'". Guardian Unlimited. London: Guardian News and Media Limited. Retrieved 31 December 2007.
  42. ^ a b Rodger, James (30 April 2018). "Thousands of 'smart motorway' drivers on M6 may have been wrongly fined". Birmingham Mail. Birmingham: Reach Plc.
  43. ^ "About Us". Smart Motorways Kill. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  44. ^ "Smart motorway deaths: South Yorkshire Police to review coroner's files". BBC News. 15 February 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  45. ^ Topham, Gwyn (26 January 2020). "UK's smart motorways to be reviewed after huge rise in near-misses". TheGuardian.com. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  46. ^ "38 killed on smart motorways in last five years". BBC News Online. 26 January 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  47. ^ Karim, Fariha; Paton, Graeme (29 January 2020). "Smart motorways are death traps, says Police Federation chief John Apter". The Times. Retrieved 3 February 2020.(subscription required)
  48. ^ "Smart motorway evidence stocktake and action plan". GOV.UK. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  49. ^ "'Abandon smart motorways', says South Yorkshire PCC". BBC News. 16 February 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  50. ^ "PCC issues statement after another serious collision on smart motorway". South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  51. ^ "Leicester crash death mother welcomes smart motorway changes". BBC. 26 April 2021. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  52. ^ "Smart Motorways UK | Smart Motorway Map". Keith Michaels PLC. Retrieved 3 July 2017.
  53. ^ "What Is A Smart Motorway? - All Car Leasing Blog". www.allcarleasing.co.uk. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  54. ^ "M1 Junctions 6A - 10 Controlled Motorway". www.highways.gov.uk. Highways Agency. Archived from the original on 21 September 2011. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  55. ^ a b c d e f g "Major roads investment in the Midlands". www.gov.uk. HM Government. 1 December 2014. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  56. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Road Investment Strategy: Investment Plan - commitments" (PDF). www.assets.publishing.service.gov.uk. Department for Transport. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  57. ^ a b "M1 junctions 23a to 25: smart motorway". www.highwaysengland.co.uk. Highways England. Archived from the original on 24 June 2018. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  58. ^ "M1 J25-28 Widening Scheme". www.highways.gov.uk. Highways Agency. Archived from the original on 10 August 2012. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  59. ^ a b "M6 Junction 10a to13: Smart Motorway". www.highways.gov.uk. Highways England. Archived from the original on 7 June 2016. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  60. ^ a b c "Intelligent Transport System (ITS)". www.theforthbridges.org. Transport Scotland. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  61. ^ "M20 Junctions 4 - 7 Controlled Motorways". www.highways.gov.uk. Highways Agency. Archived from the original on 9 September 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  62. ^ "M25 Junction 1b - 3". www.highways.gov.uk. Highways Agency. Archived from the original on 10 November 2010. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  63. ^ a b "M25 Junctions 5-7: Smart Motorway". www.highways.gov.uk. Highways England. Archived from the original on 7 June 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  64. ^ "M25 speed limit work in Surrey comes to end". BBC News. British Broadcasting Corporation. 16 April 2011. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  65. ^ "M25 Controlled Motorway - January 2013 - Consultation Document - M25 Junction 16 to 23" (PDF). www.assets.highways.gov.uk. Highways Agency. January 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  66. ^ "M25 Jct 27 to 30 Widening". www.highways.gov.uk. Highways Agency. Archived from the original on 10 August 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  67. ^ "The M25 Motorway (Junctions 27 to 30) (Variable Speed Limits) Regulations 2013". www.legislation.gov.uk. The National Archives. 11 December 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  68. ^ a b c "The Birmingham Motorway 'Box'". www.highways.gov.uk. Highways Agency. Archived from the original on 19 December 2010. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  69. ^ a b "M60 junction 8 to M62 junction 20". www.highwaysengland.co.uk. Highways England. Archived from the original on 29 July 2018. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  70. ^ a b "M60/M62 smart motorways - Public information exhibition" (PDF). www.assets.highways.gov.uk. Highways England. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 July 2018. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  71. ^ a b "Testing starts for innovative Warrington motorway trial". www.gov.uk. HM Government. 10 November 2017. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  72. ^ a b c d "M62 Junctions 25 to 30: Smart Motorway". www.highways.gov.uk. Highways Agency. Archived from the original on 22 December 2014.
  73. ^ "Smart motorways 'too confusing', says highways boss". BBC News. BBC. 23 October 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  74. ^ Shale-Hester, Tristan (5 September 2019). "Drivers avoid using open hard shoulder on smart motorways". Auto Express. Dennis Publishing. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  75. ^ "Smart Motorway Stocktake" (PDF).
  76. ^ a b c "M1 Junction 10-13 Improvements: Smart Motorway". www.highways.gov.uk. Highways Agency. Archived from the original on 21 November 2013. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  77. ^ a b c d "M4 Junction 19-20 and M5 Junction 15-17: Smart Motorway". www.highways.gov.uk. Highways Agency. Archived from the original on 11 January 2015. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  78. ^ "M6 Birmingham Box Phase 3: Smart Motorway". www.highways.gov.uk. Highways England. Archived from the original on 9 February 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  79. ^ "M1 Junctions 19 to 16 All Lane Running". www.highwaysengland.co.uk. Highways England. Archived from the original on 21 September 2018. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
  80. ^ "M1 Junctions 28-31: Smart Motorway". www.highways.gov.uk. Highways England. Archived from the original on 11 August 2016. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
  81. ^ "M1 J32 to J35a Managed Motorway". Highways Agency.
  82. ^ "M1 Junctions 39-42: Smart Motorway". Highways Agency. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  83. ^ "M3 J2-4a Managed Motorway". Highways Agency.
  84. ^ "M4 J3-12 Managed Motorway". Highways Agency. 20 May 2020.
  85. ^ "M5 Junctions 4a to 6 Smart Motorway". www.highways.gov.uk. Highways England. Archived from the original on 15 May 2014. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
  86. ^ a b "M6 junction 2 to junction 4: smart motorway". www.highwaysengland.co.uk. Highways England. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  87. ^ "M6 Junctions 16-19: Smart Motorway". www.highways.gov.uk. Highways England. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  88. ^ a b "M20 junctions 3 to 5: smart motorway". www.highwaysengland.co.uk. Highways England. 15 May 2020. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  89. ^ a b "M23 junctions 8 to 10: smart motorway". www.highwaysengland.co.uk. Highways England. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  90. ^ "M25 Junctions 23-27: Smart Motorway". www.highways.gov.uk. Highways England. Archived from the original on 7 June 2016.
  91. ^ "M27 J4-11 Managed Motorway". Highways Agency. 15 May 2020.
  92. ^ "M56 junctions 6 to 8 smart motorway". www.highwaysengland.co.uk. Highways England. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
  93. ^ a b c d e "Major roads investment in the north west". Gov.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  94. ^ a b "M62 junction 10 to junction 12: smart motorway". www.highwaysengland.co.uk. Highways England. Retrieved 19 August 2018.[dead link‍]
  95. ^ "M6 junction 21a to 26 smart motorway". www.highwaysengland.co.uk. Highways England. 22 May 2020. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  96. ^ "M6 junction 21a to 26 motorway upgrade" (PDF). Highways England. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  97. ^ a b Extra lanes to open on 10-mile stretch of M6 between Wigan and Warrington after £260million smart upgrades 16 October 2024
  98. ^ "M3 junctions 9 to 14: smart motorway". www.highwaysengland.co.uk. Highways England. 20 May 2020. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  99. ^ "M25 junction 10 to junction 16 smart motorway". www.highwaysengland.co.uk. Highways England. 18 May 2020. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  100. ^ "Major roads investment in London and the south east". www.gov.uk. HM Government. 1 December 2014. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
  101. ^ "M60 junction 18 Simister Island Interchange". www.highwaysengland.co.uk. Highways England. 16 June 2020. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  102. ^ "M62 Junction 20 to Junction 25 Smart Motorway". www.highwaysengland.co.uk. Highways England. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  103. ^ a b "Major roads investment in the north east and Yorkshire". www.gov.uk. HM Government. 1 December 2014. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
  104. ^ "A1(M) Junction 6 to Junction 8 Smart Motorway". www.highwaysengland.co.uk. Highways England. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  105. ^ "Major roads investment in the east of England". www.gov.uk. HM Government. 1 December 2014. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  106. ^ "M40/M42 interchange: smart motorway". www.highwaysengland.co.uk. Highways England. 19 May 2020. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  107. ^ a b "M40/M42 Interchange: smart motorway". www.highwaysengland.co.uk. Highways England. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
  108. ^ a b "Road Investment Strategy 2: 2020–2025" (PDF). www.assets.publishing.service.gov.uk. Department for Transport. 11 March 2020. pp. 99–105. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  109. ^ Hughes, Marcus (3 March 2021). "The reason why Newport's M4 has a new 50mph speed limit and how the Welsh Government says it will help". Wales Online. Media Wales. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  110. ^ a b "Case Study: M25 Controlled Motorway". www.dft.gov.uk. Department for Transport. Archived from the original on 6 August 2009. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  111. ^ "M1Junction 6A-10 Controlled Motorway Impact Assessment" (PDF). www.legislation.gov.uk. 1 September 2010. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  112. ^ "Impact Assessment of M1 Junctions 25 to 28" (PDF). www.legislation.gov.uk. 12 January 2010. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  113. ^ "M4 Variable Speed Limit". www.traffic-wales.com. Traffic Wales. Archived from the original on 22 October 2011. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  114. ^ ". M4 Junctions 24 - 28 Variable Speed Limit Scheme - Your Questions Answered..." (PDF). www.traffic-wales.com. Traffic Wales. January 2011. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  115. ^ Marshall, Chris (6 February 2018). "M1 J19-16 Smart Motorway". www.roads.org.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  116. ^ Marshall, Chris (12 June 2017). "M5 J4A-J6 Smart Motorway". www.roads.org.uk. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  117. ^ a b c d e f g "Big six share £1.5bn smart motorway contracts". The Construction Index. 22 July 2015. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  118. ^ a b Leaver, Joel (16 February 2020). "M56, M6, M60 and M62 hit by Smart Motorway safety review - here's what it means for North Wales". North Wales Live. Reach plc. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  119. ^ a b "M60 - M62 Smart Motorway | Wrekin". www.wrekinproducts.com. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  120. ^ Ram, Pheobe (27 February 2019). "The M1 in Nottinghamshire is now a fully functional smart motorway". Nottinghamshire Live. Local World. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  121. ^ "M6 J16 to J19 smart motorway project". www.kier.co.uk. Kier. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  122. ^ Marshall, Chris. "M6 J16-19 Smart Motorway". www.roads.org.uk. Archived from the original on 5 July 2021. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  123. ^ "M4 junctions 3-12: smart motorway". www.highwaysengland.co.uk. Highways England. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
  124. ^ "M1 junction 13 to junction 16: smart motorway". www.highwaysengland.co.uk. Highways England. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  125. ^ "M6 junction 13 to junction 15 smart motorway". www.highwaysengland.co.uk. Highways England. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  126. ^ "M27 junctions 4 to 11: smart motorway". www.highwaysengland.co.uk. Highways England. 15 May 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2021.