Smart motorways

There has been a lot of discussion recently regarding the safety or otherwise of smart motorways. While I am not taking sides in this discussion I would like to make what I think is a valid point.

When motorways were introduced just over 60 years ago we were all told about their safety because oncoming traffic was segregated (although not immediately) and, in the event of a breakdown, there was somewhere to stop. The hard shoulder was also available for emergency vehicles to get to the scene of an accident. We have all become used to the fact that, when on a motorway, you are unlikely to find a broken down vehicle blocking your path. This has become part of motorist’s mind set over the years.

A smart motorway is no different to a dual carriageway; it has more lanes, granted, but neither has a hard shoulder. In fact, a smart motorway should be safer because learners, farm tractors, cyclists and mopeds, etc. are not allowed on a motorway, and yet many people are calling for them to be banned! Why not ban dual carriageways also then?

The main problem in my opinion is that all drivers are used to having somewhere to go if their vehicle has a problem on a motorway. We subconciously think the same way when on a smart motorway, sometimes with disastrous results. You should, in my opinion, act as though you are driving on a dual carriageway when on a smart motorway – and definitely expect the unexpected.

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You’re absolutely right that a good driver should expect the unexpected, whatever type of road he or she is on. But the chief difference is that dual carriageways often have roads adjoining them, petrol stations, driveways and other areas to pull off safely, whereas motorways have long stretches – often for miles – without junctions or service stations – Ed.