Smart motorways... utterly bonkers???

[Silvercatowner]

I get that smart motorways are meant to ease congestion, but surely there isn't the capacity to make them smart enough to actually be safe?? The refuges aren't close enough together, and I don't understand how the traffic will be that closely monitored to be able to close off a lane as soon as someone breaks down or has an accident. The whole thing is deeply scary...

So what if you don’t have satnav or aren’t familiar with apps or can’t read warning signs in English ?

@KeflavikAirport

So what if you don’t have satnav or aren’t familiar with apps or can’t read warning signs in English ?

You probably shouldn't be on an English motorway ...

Srsly?

@ChrissyPlummer
Not only lane closed but police/highways in attendance as well adding to the time you’re in the live lane
Hateful things

@KeflavikAirport

So what if you don’t have satnav or aren’t familiar with apps or can’t read warning signs in English ?

A lot of the road signs are similar around the road. But to be fair, if you are driving in a foreign country then you should always be aware of the signs/laws of that country.

The Highway Code in this country is available in all mainstream languages.

Right, so every British holidaymaker who drives to France reads the French highway code and is familiar with all the French words and expressions they might come across on motorway gantries? Should be able to understand “chargement arrimé” at a glance as they drive past at 130 km/h? Right. People who don’t want it use smartphones or recent cars shouldn’t be allowed on motorways? Right.

I live in an area where it is all smart motorways and despite being a confident driver who uses them everyday I find them terrifying at times!!

No escape lane and when a lane does get shut people ignore the signs anyway (when the operators can decide which lane is shut of course - on my way to work a few days ago every gantry for 3 miles changed which lane was apparently shut whilst an accident was sorted out)

As for people blaming lorry drivers for all accidents - just wow. If car drivers thought about what they were doing and took a moment to think a lot (not all - bad lorry drivers sometimes as there are car drivers!) of accidents wouldn't happen.

See that gap between 2 lorries and how it's just big enough for your car? It's not if the fully leaden lorry needs to stop.

See that foreign lorry that you're sat dead level with? It probably has no clue you're there.

@pointythings

Hawkins you should really read the article I linked to. Originally, refuges were meant to be in place every 500 metres. That was increased to 2500 metres. It also makes clear that the surveillance system as originally proposed was not implemented. You can't argue with facts. Yes, people should drive better. But we should also be ensuring that the changes made are safe, and not cut costs. I do not understand your insistence on blaming long-standing human behaviour and I really do believe you work for the Highways Agency.

yes as you say the stop detection systems were not in place as they were recommended to be

Outrageous really