People are dying on Yorkshire’s ‘smart’ motorways, says MP
AN MP has warned that people are dying on Yorkshire’s motorways as a result of the Government failing to invest.
Sarah Champion, the Labour MP for Rotherham, told the House of Commons that the Government must improve safety on All Lanes Running (ALR) motorways or face the prospect of more deaths.
She demanded a halt to the roll-out of new schemes and for action to address long standing safety concerns on existing ALR motorways following five deaths in 10 months on 16 miles of the M1 in South Yorkshire.
During a Commons debate, she said: “The safety of motorists must always be paramount... It is totally unacceptable to risk lives in the name of cost savings.”
She outlined problems with existing schemes, which include an inability to detect stationary vehicles, a lack of emergency refuges and high levels of motorist non-compliance with red X signs, which close lanes to traffic in the event of a stranded vehicle.
She insisted the Government take the opportunity of a recently announced review into smart motorways to change course and prevent further loss of life.
“There is no evidence that shows me that ALR can ever
be delivered safely,” she said. “I therefore strongly believe the Government must stop the rollout with immediate effect.”
She highlighted the case of her constituent, Jason Mercer, who died on the M1 last year after he and another motorist were forced to stop in a live lane following a minor collision due to the lack of a hard shoulder. Their vehicles were struck by a lorry, resulting in the deaths of the two men.
Mr Mercer’s widow, Claire, is bringing a High Court challenge calling for ALRs to be scrapped.
Responding for the Government, Transport Minister George Freeman suggested that the Government might create a task force to investigate.