CLUBS BACK BAN ON SMART MOTORWAYS
Enthusiasts say that the latest recommendations don’t go far enough
Historic vehicle clubs are calling for an outright ban on smart motorways, after MPs demanded the construction of new stretches to be halted.
Enthusiasts spoke out after a cross-party Transport Select Committee review wanted more safety measures – like breakdown refuge areas situated closer together – and more statistics into the risks of ‘all-lane running’ motorways, which turned existing hard shoulders into live lanes.
A poll by the Major Trauma Group said that only 24 per cent of adults interviewed felt safe on smart motorway stretches.
Classic clubs said that their members are generally not happy on smart motorways and many continued to make detours in order to avoid them. Chair of the Rover 800 Club, and the Maestro, and the Maestro and Montego Club, Tanya Field said: ‘ We don’t want these smart motorways, full stop. These roads are not good for any classic, including more modern ones. If you break down it’s dangerous getting out of the car.’ Neville Holmes, the chairman of the 6/80 and the Morris Oxford Club, said: ‘Smart motorways were not a good idea and certainly didn’t mix with classic vehicles.
‘Cars without hazard warning lights for example would be at great risk. We have never liked smart motorways and would definitely like to see them removed.’
The Morris Minor Owners’ Club’s Sandy Hamilton added: ‘ We would avoid, for example smart motorway sections of the M1, whatever the age of our classics.’
The Department of Transport (DfT) confirmed, however, that it would focus on upgrading the safety of the roads, however, rather than banning them.
The recent report from the Commons Transport Committee reiterated that no further smart motorways should be rolled out and ‘major safety concerns’ were being ignored.
However, most of the clubs that CCW spoke to, included the Ford Y&C Register argued that this didn’t go far enough.
Chairman, Bob Wilkinson, said: ‘ We are very concerned about smart motorways, which are very much a problem for older cars.
‘People’s conception of speed has changed so much in any case on motorways, and cars might not be able to make it to the next “safe” area.’
The Rover Sports Register had a similar view, with chair Mike Maher adding: ‘There’s an awful lot telling me these roads aren’t particularly safe though motorways are statistically our safest roads. It’s a difficult situation. I certainly wouldn’t want to break down on a smart motorway in a classic.’
Classic car spares specialist and spokesman for the Wolseley Register, Andrew McAdam, commented: ‘Smart motorways are causing a lot of concern, and people don’t feel safe on them. Classics are reliable if properly maintained, but there’s always that chance.’
Nick Larkin