IAM RoadSmart says smart motorways need ‘serious thought’

New research by road safety charity IAM RoadSmart has revealed 53,000 incidents involving drivers ignoring lane closures on smart motorways since 2021.

Figures obtained following Freedom of Information requests to police forces revealed 4,393 incidents were recorded in 2021, rising to 20,773 in 2022 and 28,231 in 2023. This includes ignoring the red X signs turned on above lanes when vehicles are stranded.

The charity is now urging the new government to give ‘serious thought’ to the future of smart motorways.

Smart motorways need ‘serious thought’

IAM RoadSmart director of policy and standards Nicholas Lyes said: “Ignoring a red X sign on a smart motorway is dangerous because it risks a serious collision and, for this reason, we welcome police forces clamping down on those who break the law.

“The majority of drivers have serious reservations about the safety of smart motorways where the hard shoulder has been removed, and these figures are unlikely to persuade them they are safe.

“We know that no new all-lane running smart motorways will be built but it does beg the question of what we do with the existing stretches that are in operation? This is something the new government needs to give some serious thought to.”

The charity has called for action after publishing its Safer roads for all manifesto earlier in the summer which set out a programme of initiatives it believes can improve safety for all road users.

These included the introduction of graduated driver licences, fixing potholes, expanding driver rehabilitation courses for drink-driving, and offering Insurance Premium Tax (IPT) breaks for better skilled drivers.