England’s National Highways has published its fourth and final Smart Motorways Stocktake Progress Report, outlining the completion of key safety initiatives and providing updated analysis on smart motorway performance.
The report confirmed that all 2020 stocktake actions have been implemented, including the installation of radar-based Stopped Vehicle Detection (SVD) technology on all All Lane Running (ALR) motorways. More than 700 additional signs have been placed to inform drivers of emergency stopping points, and enforcement cameras have been upgraded to improve compliance with Red X lane closures.
As a result, traffic officer response times have improved, and automated systems can now detect stopped vehicles and close lanes more rapidly.
National Highways chief executive, Nick Harris said: “Our latest analysis continues to show that overall, in terms of deaths or serious injuries, smart motorways remain our safest roads.”
However, he acknowledged ongoing public concerns regarding motorways without a hard shoulder and reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to driver confidence and safety.
The report highlighted that no new smart motorways will be built following the UK Government’s 2023 decision to halt further expansion. However, £900m in additional safety enhancements is being delivered on existing smart motorways, including the construction of over 150 new emergency stopping areas by March 2025.
Updated safety data in the report indicates that smart motorways continue to perform better than conventional motorways in key safety metrics. Between 2018 and 2022, smart motorways had lower fatal and serious injury rates than conventional motorways, with 37 out of 39 schemes showing reductions in these incidents after implementation. The report also notes that motorway collisions involving stopped vehicles accounted for just 4% of all incidents, with the highest risks occurring on A-roads rather than smart motorways.
As part of future monitoring, smart motorway safety performance will now be incorporated into the broader annual Road Safety Performance Overview Report, rather than being reported separately. National Highways will continue to assess long-term safety trends and invest in new technologies to improve driver experience and road safety.
The findings reinforce that while smart motorways remain a debated issue, ongoing safety measures and infrastructure improvements are helping to enhance their performance and reliability for road users.
