The RAC has renewed its call for the immediate reinstatement of hard shoulders on all-lane running (ALR) smart motorways, coinciding with the ten-year anniversary of their introduction. The motoring organisation highlighted ongoing safety concerns, particularly regarding the risks faced by drivers who break down in live lanes without a dedicated emergency refuge.
It has been a decade since the first ALR smart motorway, a stretch of the M25 between junctions 23 and 27, opened without a permanent hard shoulder. This design allows the hard shoulder to be used as an additional traffic lane during busy periods, aiming to reduce congestion and improve traffic flow. However, critics, including the RAC, have consistently raised alarms about the increased danger to motorists when vehicles stop in active traffic lanes.
According to the RAC, the removal of the hard shoulder significantly elevates the risk of collisions for broken-down vehicles. While emergency refuge areas (ERAs) are provided, these are often spaced far apart, meaning many drivers cannot reach them in an emergency. The time taken for emergency services or traffic officers to reach a stranded vehicle in a live lane is also a critical concern, potentially leading to more severe incidents.
The government and National Highways paused the rollout of new smart motorways in 2023, citing public concerns about safety and a need to gather more data. Despite this pause, existing ALR smart motorways continue to operate without permanent hard shoulders, leaving a significant portion of the motorway network under this controversial design.
The RAC’s stance is that a permanent hard shoulder provides the safest option for drivers experiencing a breakdown. If a full reinstatement is not deemed feasible, the organisation suggests that dynamic hard shoulders, which can be opened to traffic during peak times but revert to an emergency lane at other times, offer a safer compromise than the current ALR model.
This renewed call underscores the persistent debate surrounding smart motorways, balancing the need for increased road capacity with the imperative of motorist safety. The ten-year milestone serves as a potent reminder of the long-standing issues yet to be fully resolved.