What are Smart Motorways and how do you use them?

Smart motorways are confusing to some, but they're here to stay, so it's vital drivers and riders get to grips with how to use them.

[SJClarke]

Sounds dangerous. So how can you get to a emergency refuge if you have broke down? Don’t think that’s been made clear??

[andresviveros]

So how will emergency services get to you if all lanes are being used, this isn't smart

[patryckshepard]

"what if I break down?" make sure you do it in a designated breakdown spot 🤔

[samconway]

Yes because staying in your car with your hazards on is really going to protect you from an oncoming lorry driving at 70mph

[Car_toz]

DON'T stay in the car! - climb across if you can and exit out the left side asap and stand away from motorway

[jjwebster]

What an absolutely stupid idea. It's a nasty accident waiting to happen.

[anouska]

So what happens if the gantry says 40mph and then you reach the next gantry and it says nothing? Does that mean it's back to 70 or is it still 40?

[complexgamer]

Thank god I can control when I breakdown I wouldnt wanna breakdown in a live lane of 70mph traffic would I

[daveshanahan]

@rac I think what confuses people more than anything and what isn't included in your video is what happens when a live lane is closed up ahead. People seem to ignore the change lane signs until they come up on the lane closed sign. My understanding of the arrow signs is that you should change lane immediately, where as most people treat it as a merge and wait until the last minute to change lane. The drivers who are following the signs and changing lane then get annoyed because other drivers use this as an advantage to push up the road. I think policy makers should not only fine people for ignoring the lane closed signs, but also ignoring the earlier change lane signs.

[sohebhossain]

If you breakdown, magic your car to a refuge point and clamber out over the middle into the passenger seat and then exit. Be smart. Be a smart motorway.

[JMc.D]

I actually said ‘fu*kin hell’ out loud at the stay in your car bit. These places are death traps

[markwomersley]

Drove up to speed Camara that was set at 50mph as I got on to the markings it dropped to 40moh and started flashing loads of drivers

[daveknight]

You are dealing with human beings, incapable of driving a safe distance behind the car in front (one thousand and one, two thousand and two ), the two second rule. Speeding drivers undertaking, poor visibility caused by rain, night time and LED/badly adjusted headlights.Yesterday on panorama was the first i had heard of them, on the M25 there are meant to be a place of safety every 600 yards when in fact they are every 2.5 miles and only 2 cameras operating , i dread not only myself but anybody breaking down . in my opinion the highways agency need taking to court and prosecuted as this the only language these idiots seem to understand and unless it was one of their immediate family i don't think they care.

[PeterSmith-lsut]

Gantry signs fail, too often...
Still think there a good idea?

[teem]

Whichever team came up with this idea really scares me, like who we have on top making decisions for our safety. The arrogance is too much and unrealistic expectations. If my car totally shut down, I can't get it to the nearest refuge as there's no power. I'm lucky to even glide. Its the most stupid idea ever carried out on our motorways

[chat]

Meanwhile on the M3...
Me: Daddy, our car engine is on smoke.
Driver: I know.
Me: We missed the emergency refuge area.
Driver: Too bad, we have another 1 mile for the next.
The car stopped on the motorway, and it is 0.8km left for the next one.
Other drivers:

[techtinkerin]

Can you imagine what the original designers of the motorways would have said if you told them there was to be no hard shoulder? Yes exactly.

[dr.leftfield]

Bad motorway road discipline has been ongoing since the motorway it's a human thing
everybody drives to their advantage and comfort and it's going to continue. The human being
even the not so sharp have an amazing ability to immediately engage survival mode
and wait for it if you break down on a smart motorway and their is no refuge area you
stay in your car with your seatbelt on. I'll say farewell to my loved ones and / or my
future friends now.

[themusicman]

Simple solution to the 'Smart Motorways' that no sane person wants - DON'T DRIVE IN LANE ONE - EVER, Leave it free for breakdowns.

[Ollie]

*can’t get to refuge area* : “Guess I’ll die then”