Smart Motorways | Left Lane Anyone?

After the updates to the Highway code this week, I decided to explore how smart motorways work, how are you should deal with breakdowns and I also discuss whether or not they have reduced congestion.

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#motorway #smart #education

[yvonnemorris]

I thought you had to(mandatory) call for assistance before leaving a smart motorway refuge and wait to be escorted on your way!!

[tdoubt]

So I've been driving for 44years and used to get road rage. Now I get Ashley's calm voice talking me through situations. I've slowed right down and don't react when I get cut up anymore. Now I get to my destinations without stress and adrenaline in my veins.
Thanks Ashley

[ExtantThylacine]

The trouble with smart motorways is that they're built on the assumption that most people are competent road users.

[james-]

Lane hogging is a massive issue. If people kept in lane 1 and only moved over temporarily to overtake then capacity would be doubled. Most of the time I see drivers sitting side by side other lanes doing to the same speed.

[MrWrob]

I've been driving for over 25 years, and luckily never had any points on me license. Does that make me a great driver, absolutely not. Ashley popped into my suggestions a year or so ago, but been an avid viewer since. Love his presentation and his calm scouse accent, but more importantly, everyday presents new challenges on the road. Watching Ashley's videos made me realise, there is still a lot I don't know about, be it road signs or whatever, and these videos help me keep grounded as a driver.

[ConquerDriving]

In my experience the variable speed limits on smart motorways can be set far too low too early. I understand that there may be danger ahead but getting people to drive at 40mph or even 20mph for many miles before the hazard on quiet stretches of road is crying wolf. People get fed up and ignore it which is understandable and only causes more danger when they eventually reach the hazard, rules should work with people not against them.

[chrisdevine]

I find, whenever I drive the speed limit, whatever road I'm driving on, I'm the only person doing it.

[Maddmank]

All I have to say on smart motorways is God help anyone who breaks down on one to far from the refuge areas

[Dominate]

In my opinion smart motorways are more dangerous than convential motorways despite everyone being forced to stick to the speed limit

[steve]

One problem I've experienced is the speed being reduced for a reason however 2 or 3 grantries ahead it then being national speed limit despite there being no issues within the reduced section

[richardnicholson]

A few weeks ago I was travelling at night south on the M6. At the knutsford the speed was reduced to 60 with a warning for a stranded vehicle. This was displayed on most gantries all the way to Crewe before junction 16. This is 15 to 20 minutes at this point. There was a broken down vehicle in lane 1 and in all that time they still hadn’t closed the lane.

[JackFromMorley]

My two favourite smart motorway moments:
I was behind a group of vehicles in all lanes with a 60 limit applied. Just as the group approached a gantry, in blinked off, and then back on at 20- everyone at the front slammed on the brakes, likely terrified of getting done for speeding, with terrifying consequences. (I don't actually know what the tolerance is on the cameras and if there is a time to adjust allowed between when the gantry changes and when the cameras activate, interested if anyone does)

Second was signs of an incident up ahead with lane 1 closed. Everyone moves across to continue driving in the other lanes only to get round a long bend and realise there's a crashed car and police car in lane 2 and everyone swerving out the way to not hit it. If the signs just said caution ahead generically, people would prepare for all eventualities, but because they specifically mark one lane as a problem, it gives everyone a false sense of security. I think it's clear already, but I bloody hate these things and wish they'd get rid already....

[RonSeymour]

Highways agency workers monitoring the road admit that there are many times when they delay in noticing that the live lane is blocked. The road isn't closed and presents a danger. The Transport Minister should not authorise any smart motorway until he volunteers to have an unannounced breakdown, at night, in the rain, with his family in the car. If he refuses, then ban them all.

[linedwell]

There's a campaign called 'Smart Motorways Kill' that was set up by a woman who lost her husband on a smart motorway. It's a sad story and worthwhile campaign.

[minecraftable]

With the smart motorways having frequent speed cameras, I'm nervous to go over 70. The other day, I had a driver pull up behind me when I was doing 70 bang on, overtaking in lane 3. They were so close and flashing, hand gestures. Even when I attempted to increase my gap to them by easing off and accelerating they just revved up even closer. I love driving, but I think the current system makes everyone either stressed, angry or annoyed.

[jamietaylor]

A point about the cameras: it's been reported that smart motorways are *not* continuously 100% monitored. So utlimately they rely on a driver having a mobile phone with signal and to know where they are to report their breakdown in a timely manner.

[jakerockznoodles]

I don't use motorways often so I really appreciate videos like this where we have more visual demonstrations of how these rules affect us all in practice. Cheers.

[jillp]

I LOATHE smart motorways (most of the time). Down South, we have loads of them. I remember one occasion coming back from Canterbury along the M25, a car or horsebox had broken down in the left hand land. It took us 20 minutes to get past. As I carried on, we came to a non-smart section with the hard shoulder. We passed a further 2 or 3 broken down cars on the hard shoulder ... and the traffic continued to flow freely. I don't mind the variable speed limits and the red 'X' - they're a good idea. Except sometimes there's quite a delay in setting them when there's a problem, and sometimes there's quite a delay in re-setting them. There clearly is no longer a danger, and yet you still have to drive at 50mph or risk being fined. I have had experience of that (not the fine part!) down the M3 one evening with very little traffic about as well. So frustrating. And then you can kind of understand why drivers on these motorways daily get complacent.

[KevinWMoor]

I think the original design of smart motorways, as seen on the M42 etc, works and are pretty safe. The refuges are very close together and the flow control is much more effective. The newer, more lax style, as on the M6, are out and out dangerous because all the originally included safety features have been watered down.

[samkelly]

Hi Ashley. I'm a regular user of the M42 and in the case of congestion the hard shoulder will be opened becoming lane 1. As you demonstrated people still don't use it. This was very evident during the holiday traffic when 3 and 4 would be stationary and lane 1 was almost my own personal lane. However, the posted speed limit was 50 and this didn't feel safe to drive at whilst the other lanes were stopped or rolling - was always mindful of someone wanting to join lane 1 from a slow speed.