Dangerous motorways

sir – During my career as a police officer I was regularly assigned to police fast roads. We were reminded that drivers who had broken down on hard shoulders had an average life expectancy of 34 minutes.

It is therefore frightening that those who break down on smart motorways, which do not have a hard shoulder, have to wait 17 minutes on average before they are spotted, and a further 17 minutes before they are rescued (report, January 25). In five years, 38 people have died on these roads.

These days, as a driving instructor, I highlight to my pupils the dangers of breaking down. There should be one area on motorways for stops – and another for flowing or slowing traffic. Paul Bevis-knowles

Ruislip, Middlesex

sir – As a former civil engineer, I believe there is a simple (if imperfect) solution to the lack of hard shoulders on smart motorways.

Armco barriers are positioned very close to the edge of the inside lane, but serve little purpose apart from protecting hazardous areas. Removing most of the crash barriers would allow any broken-down vehicle to pull off the motorway away from danger.

Heavy vehicles may have problems with soft ground, but at least they would be off the motorway and it would give time for precautions to be taken to protect the lane. Peter Harrington

Belper, Derbyshire

sir – At the flick of a switch, Grant Shapps, the Transport Secretary, could reinstate the hard shoulder on all motorways by closing the inside lane.

A review could then take place, safe in the knowledge that stranded drivers were not being put at needless risk. Andrew Lakeman

Bristol