Coffin protest outside Westminster

FAMILIES of smart motorway victims carried coffins through Westminster yesterday to demand the immediate reinstatement of the hard shoulder.

Around 50 protesters marched to the Department for Transport to urge the Government to end the controversial roads. The cardboard coffins symbolised the 53 people killed on smart motorways between 2014 and 2019.

Some of the protesters’ loved ones died after breaking down on the roads. Jack Gallowtree, who suffered devastating leg injuries in one accident, travelled from Wolverhampton to join yesterday’s Smart Motorways Kill protest.

‘The Government needs to be held accountable for introducing these murderous roads,’ said the 33-year-old ex-model.

Mr Gallowtree was on a smart section of the M6 in April when his motorbike lost power and he was unable to reach safety without a hard shoulder. He required emergency surgery after suffering a shattered kneecap and major wounds.