Shapps faces calls to ‘stop gambling with lives’

GRANT SHAPPS has been urged to “stop gambling with people’s lives” and meet families of those who have died on smart motorways, as Labour calls for a return of hard shoulders.

At a virtual roundtable meeting with relatives of people who have died as a result of hard shoulders being scrapped, Jim McMahon, the shadow transport secretary, was told the network should be renamed “killer motorways”.

Sally Jacobs, whose husband, Derek, 83, was killed after he broke down on the M1, said murder charges should be brought against those who removed the hard shoulders, as it had been “proven” to be fatal, and so deaths were no longer accidental but deliberate.

Mr McMahon has demanded that ministers reinstate hard shoulders while a safety assessment is carried out.

In an emotional meeting, the MP praised the determination of relatives of those who had died for campaigning to prevent more tragedies on the network.

Mr McMahon also heard from Claire Mercer, whose husband, Jason, died on the M1; as well as Saima Aktar and Niaz Shazad, whose mother, Nargis, died on the same stretch of motorway. He urged Mr Shapps to meet them all too.

“[The Transport Secretary] promised he would return to the Commons ‘soon’ to report on the progress of his safety review of smart motorways,” said Mr McMahon. “That was nearly six weeks ago, and every day of inaction is gambling with people’s lives.

“We need to hear what progress has been made on the recommended safety measures as a matter of urgency. In the meantime, the Government must do what Labour has asked and reinstate the hard shoulder, before yet another family is left grieving.”

He rejected Mr Shapps’s claims the Government would need to buy land equivalent to 700 Wembley Stadiums to reinstate hard shoulders. He said it was possible to keep “smart” technology, including gantries relaying speed limits and closing lanes, but simply turn the inside lane back into a hard shoulder.

Mr McMahon will write to the Transport Secretary to ask him to meet campaigners and share up-to-date data on fatalities. He will also write to the chairman of the transport committee – which is conducting its own inquiry into smart motorways – to ensure families are given the opportunity to give evidence.