Half of drivers don’t know the rules of smart motorways

Smart motorways have led to safety concerns, but highways bosses insist they are an effective way of boosting capacity. Here the PA news agency answers 12 key questions about the roads. What is a smart motorway? Smart motorways involve various methods to manage the flow of traffic, including variable speed limits and using the hard … Read more

Hands-free driving on UK motorways next year threatens lives, say experts

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 

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

Ministers plan SEVEN new smart motorways despite concerns over their safety

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

Five ways UK motorways are set to change in the coming years

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

UK motorways packed as school holidays start on hot weekend

Motorways ‘currently look like a cross between a caravan and boat show’, police have said after 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

BBC criticise Panorama after reporter takes hands off steering wheel for ‘Killer Motorways’ episode

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

The motorways to avoid this bank holiday weekend

Get ready to queue: A massive 16.5m vehicles will be hitting the road over the bank holiday weekend, transport analysts have predicted Transport data experts have calculated that 16.5 million motors will hit the road over the next few days as Britons pack up their vehicles to enjoy the bank holiday sun away from home. … Read more