Smart motorways make drivers’ lives harder

sir – I regularly commute along the southern stretch of the M25, which was increased from three to four lanes some years ago in a move that wasn’t very smart (Comment, August 31).

In the absence of a hard shoulder, the unavoidable lane closures that follow a breakdown result in chaos and long queues as traffic attempts to squeeze into the remaining lanes. If there is an accident, even in the inside lane, traffic police rarely hesitate to close the entire carriageway completely.

Lane discipline is worse than ever with four lanes, as “middle lane wallies” gravitate to the third of four, where they bumble along holding everyone up, blinkered by complacency or perhaps fear. The second lane is often almost empty, for good reason: lorries use it as their overtaking lane, and cars find it nigh impossible to move into the third lane to pass them because it is too tightly packed. Smart motorways are dumb. David Miller Tunbridge Wells, Kent

sir – I am an ambulance paramedic. The hard shoulder is our usual path through a traffic jam. Making rapid progress on motorways is now more difficult and stressful, as there can be four lanes of traffic blocking the way.

I now radio our control room when we are delayed because of this situation. I feel that an early record is necessary in case there is a fatality and a delay in medical treatment is questioned in the coroner’s court.

Smart motorways appear to have been designed and approved by people who spend little time on them and have a poor understanding of the unplanned and unpleasant events that occur on them.

Tim Bradbury Northwich, Cheshire