The Government’s plan to allow hands-free motoring on Britain’s motorways as early as spring next year have been criticised following a safety review of the technology being proposed. Ministers are due to close a consultation next week that could legalise the use of Automated Lane Keeping Systems (ALKS) that allows drivers to take their hands … Read more
Roads boss who oversaw ‘death trap’ smart motorways quits his £456,000 job at Highways England Jim O’Sullivan played down the risks posed by controversial smart motorways Mr O’Sullivan, a top paid civil servant, was awarded a £54,000 pay rise last year He caused fury last year when he rejected calls to pause the £1.6billion programme, … Read more
England is to get at least seven new smart motorways as part of a £27billilon package of improvements to the country’s roads, according to reports today. Highways England is to set out its five year plan of major road improvements later today, according to The Times. The plans, which were partly released back in March, … Read more
Installing overhead charging cables to power fleets of electric lorries would almost entirely eliminate UK road freight transport emissions by the late 2030s, according to a new government-funded report published this month. The Centre for Sustainable Road Freight’s white paper on ‘e-highways’ said they would cost an estimated £19.3billion to implement the overhead lines, similar … Read more
Motorways ‘currently look like a cross between a caravan and boat show’, police have said as millions hit the roads as the official school holidays begin for many families. The busy roads heading southbound towards Cornwall, South Devon and Plymouth are pilling up with traffic ahead of the weekend, as many families set off on … Read more
Panorama is criticised by BBC bosses after reporter took BOTH hands off the steering wheel during episode about ‘Britain’s Killer Motorways’ BBC upheld complaint against Panorama after presenter took hands off wheel Viewers said reporter Richard Bilton gave a ‘bad example of driving’ on show Programme, aired on 27 January, found to have breached the … Read more
Britain’s dead motorways: Barely a car can be seen on country’s busiest roads as coronavirus lockdown takes hold and day-trippers stick to beaches and parks near home Britain’s motorways are empty as the country comes to the end of week one of the coronavirus lockdown Motorways in Nottingham, Worcestershire and Fleet, near London, are all … Read more
Hardly any drivers feel safe on smart motorways, the result of a huge motorist poll has highlighted today. A survey of 17,171 drivers by the AA found that just 9 per cent feel relaxed or safe using the motorways without hard shoulders, either permanently or as part of temporary measures when there’s a lot of … Read more
Cameras that spot broken down cars on smart motorways aren’t monitored all of the time, Highways England bosses admits Highways England insists the ‘smart’ routes are as safe as normal motorways The smart motorways don’t have a hard shoulder but do have refuges for cars Motoring groups have attacked the £6bn scheme after series of … Read more