Smart decision to ditch Smart roads

The scrapping of new smart motorway developments is a positive step that will increase confidence on the roads, according to a leading safety charity.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, that has campaigned on road safety for more than a century, said that the risk of a collision between a stationary and moving vehicle on smart motorways is higher than on conventional motorways, with many road users calling for the return of the hard shoulder.

Rebecca Guy, road safety manager at RoSPA, said: “It is quite clear that drivers want the return of the hard shoulder, and ultimately we need motorists to feel safe on our roads.

“That’s why we welcome the plans to shelve the planned construction of smart motorways and hope that money will go into making motorways safer in other ways.

“However, an important thing we must remember, is that even where a hard shoulder is in place, live lane breakdowns can still happen, for example, if a motorist in lane three experiences a breakdown and cannot reach the hard shoulder in time.

“A hard shoulder is only a relative place of safety. Collisions and injury still can occur on the hard shoulder, which is why we will continue to educate motorists on what to do if they do find themselves in an emergency on the road.

“We are reassured to hear that investments in existing smart motorway safety features are ongoing, in particular the retrofit of emergency refuge areas which we called for during a Transport Select Committee evidence session.”

What to do if you find yourself in difficulty on the motorway Statistically, motorways are the safest roads to drive on, but encountering a problem that means you need to stop can dramatically increase danger levels.

If you do break down, have a puncture or a minor collision, read on for tips on how to stay safe.

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If you’re on a motorway with a hard shoulder

1. No instant stop – stay calm and keep left.
If you are still able to drive your car and the situation doesn’t call for an instant stop, you should move over to the left and reduce speed at a steady rate, before heading to the nearest junction or service station.

2. Instant stop – don’t panic
Although it can be tempting to slam on your brakes, you can often use momentum to move the car over to the left. If you can, use that momentum to move over to the left lane and stop on the hard shoulder, putting your hazards on.

If it’s dark, ensure your side lights are left illuminated.

3. Be aware of changes in your car’s handling
If an engine has failed or a tyre burst, your car will feel different to drive.

With no power steering, for example, you’ll need to work harder to turn the wheel.

4. Stop as far to the left as possible
When you make it to the hard shoulder, stop your vehicle as far left as you can.

Furthermore, turning your wheels to the left means that if your car is hit by a moving vehicle, it will be directed away from passing traffic rather than into the live carriageway.

5. Get all occupants out of the car
When you’ve safely stopped on the hard shoulder, everyone should exit the car to the left.

Then, wait as far left as you can behind the car, behind a safety barrier, if there is one.

Never stand in a place where your vehicle could be forced into you if moving traffic collides with it.

Drivers with mobility problems should wait in the car with their seatbelt fastened.

If possible, leave pets in the car – motorways are noisy and could startle an animal and leave them difficult to control.

6. Call for help
If possible, use the nearest SOS phone to call for help, and make your way back to your car behind the barrier, if there is one present.

Using the emergency telephone will enable call operators to locate you more easily.

We always advocate having a fully charged phone before any journey, too.

If you cannot access the SOS telephone, call your breakdown cover or the emergency services for help.

Whatever you do, do not try and fix the problem yourself.

If you’re on a smart motorway

1. Get to a service area or emergency refuge area (ERA)
If your car can be driven, get to a service area or leave at the next junction.

When you’ve found a safe place to stop, call your breakdown cover company from your mobile. If you can’t, aim for the next emergency refuge area. Then use the SOS phone to get help.

2. If you break down in a live lane
Try and get the vehicle in the leftmost lane and as far off the road as possible.

Turn your hazard lights on as soon as you can. If you’re in the lefthand lane and it is safe to do so, get out of the vehicle on the left-hand side and wait behind the barrier.

If you can’t get out or you’re in another live lane and it’s not safe to leave the vehicle, stay in the car with your seatbelt on and call 999.

 

Picture: Dan Shirley