Drivers ‘stranded on motorway for an hour’
WHISTLEBLOWER’S FEARS OVER GLITCHES IN ‘SMART’ SYSTEM
HIGHWAYS bosses have admitted a string of faults and glitches on the M62 which whistleblowers within the organisation claim could be dangerous to drivers.
Many of the issues revolve around technical or manufacturing faults, but it’s claimed staffing issues and technology lapses are leaving some cars stranded in live lanes ‘for over an hour,’ according to a Highways insider.
One highways insider said: “Road traffic officers are fearing for their own safety, as well as that of all other road users; meanwhile the official reports are deeming Smart motorways amongst the safest of them all.
“The situation is dire. Traffic officers are requesting signals for lane closures, speed restrictions or warning legends and too often the reply from the control centre is that the signal prior is faulty.”
Drivers on the smart motorway are alerted by more than 200 digital screens to potential hazards.
But on a 10-mile section between junctions 10 and 12 of the M62, where there is no hard shoulder, National Highways has admitted:
Two thirds of the 36 roadside message signs are broken. Until they are fixed, drivers must stick to a 60mph speed limit.
Two overhead gantry signs were left broken for more than a month – one has now been fixed.
Two CCTV cameras were left unfixed until the M.E.N. got in touch
National Highways revealed plans to install new ‘stopped vehicle detection’ technology on this section.
Jim McMahon, Oldham MP and Shadow Secretary of State for Transport, said: “We’ve met with families of victims who have died on smart motorways and many of these could have been prevented had a hard shoulder been in place.”
Alan Shepherd, North West Regional Director for National Highways, said: “On the M62 between junctions 10 and 12, we are urgently addressing a potential manufacturing fault with roadside message signs. As a mitigation measure, until we have resolved the issue, we have introduced a temporary speed limit of 60mph. The smart motorway remains covered by CCTV.”
The Department of Transport didn’t comment.