Anger over delays to smart motorways fatality report

THE Government has been criticised for failing to publish a key document with data showing the rate of fatalities on smart motorways.

Campaigners and motoring groups have called on the Department for Transport (DfT) to urgently publish its smart motorways stocktake, saying drivers need to know if safety has improved on the controversial roads.

The Sunday Telegraph can disclose one table in the report shows the rate of drivers killed or seriously injured in stopped vehicle collisions increased on all-lane-running smart motorways. Motorists are twice as likely to die if they break down on this type of smart motorway, than on a conventional one.

The full document, which includes complete collision data, has yet to be published, despite the Government previously promising it for the spring.

The Telegraph understands National Highways, the body responsible for England’s motorways, has had the document ready for months, but the Government has been reluctant to publish.

Claire Mercer, whose husband Jason was killed on the M1 smart motorway, said: “It’s especially concerning that the report has been produced but not released. So it is not like they are behind with the work.”

The delay comes despite Rishi Sunak axing plans to build any new smart motorways over safety concerns.

Edmund King, president of the AA, said: “The Prime Minister’s announcement was welcome, but drivers need to know what is happening on the current 193 miles of all-lane-running and 63 miles of dynamic hard shoulder smart motorways.”