Smart Motorways is a term that covers different types of motorways: Controlled Motorway,  Dynamic Hard Shoulder and All Lane Running. The Transport Select Committee's inquiry into Smart Motorways asks for evidence of these types of motorways benefits and safety. The inquiry also touches on Smart Motorways impact on reducing congestion on busy sections of motorway and other roads in the strategic road network. 

After recent calls to scrap smart motorways a Department for Transport spokesman said that a recent ‘stocktake’ of smart motorway safety “showed that in most ways smart motorways are as safe as, or safer than, the conventional ones. The Transport Secretary has tasked Highways England with delivering an 18 point action plan to ensure they are safer still.”

Highways England added: “We are aware of the ongoing concerns and are working hard to deliver the improvements set out in the Transport Secretary’s action plan.”

CIHT has always maintained that improving road safety should be based around engineering, enforcement and education. We believe that several factors would give users of smart motorways greater confidence and re-assurance whilst driving on them. These include; installation and use of appropriate technology, clear and accurate communication with drivers, greater understanding of smart motorways by customers and guidance on how we should safely use them and appropriate spacing of refuges would all help.

CIHT's will publish its submission when the Transport Select Committee releases it.