The Freight Transport Association (FTA) is pleased its concerns about management and signalling on smart motorways have been addressed in the Government’s response to a Transport Select Committee report published today.
FTA raised its concerns with Highways England on Red X compliance and proper management of the signal systems on smart motorways. The Government has today responded to the Transport Select Committee’s report on all-lane running, highlighting these concerns.
Smart motorways use technology to actively manage traffic, keeping vehicles flowing freely and increasing the capacity of the road by either temporarily or permanently opening the hard shoulder to traffic.
FTA had said that rather than denying road users the much-needed benefits of more reliable journey times that smart motorways provide, the focus should be on educating drivers on how to use them safely, what the various signs mean and what they should do in the event of a breakdown.
Malcolm Bingham, FTA’s Head of Road Network Management Policy, said:
“FTA recognises the importance of looking at the safety aspects of vehicles coming to a halt in a live lane, but this is something that could happen even with a hard shoulder as vehicle faults can occur anywhere and there must be a system to deal with such occurrences, particularly on busy sections of motorway.
“The Government’s evidence on schemes already built show that there is also growing positive evidence of the safety of all lane running.”
FTA emphasised the importance of training and education of drivers in helping them understand the need to comply with road signs, as is improved signage and technology and allowing the smart motorway to be managed by Highways England staff and the police. The Association will continue to work with Highways England to ensure that any training packages produced are relevant to commercial vehicle drivers.
Notes for editors
For further information, please contact the FTA press office via email: [email protected] or call 01892 552255.
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The Freight Transport Association can trace its origins back to 1889 and is recognised as the voice of the freight and logistics industry, representing the transport interests of companies moving goods by road, rail, sea and air. FTA members operate over 220,000 goods vehicles – half the UK fleet – consign over 90 per cent of the freight moved by rail and 70 per cent of sea and air freight.
