Minister questioned on roll-out and safety of smart motorways
28 June 2021
The Transport Committee examines the evidence base for the safety of smart motorways and consider how effectively the Government’s 18-point action plan, published in March 2020, addresses the safety risks that arise when the hard shoulder is used as a live lane of traffic.
- Watch Parliament TV: The roll-out and safety of smart motorways
- Inquiry: The roll-out and safety of smart motorways
- Transport Committtee
Witnesses
Wednesday 30 June 2021, virtual meeting
9.30am
- Baroness Vere of Norbiton, Minister for Roads, Buses and Places, Department for Transport
- Jill Adam, Director of Strategic Roads, Economics and Statistics, Department for Transport
- Nick Harris, Acting Chief Executive, Highways England
- Mike Wilson, Chief Highways Engineer, Highways England
Highways England recently released its one-year progress report, which included plans to accelerate some of the measures outlined in the action plan. The Government also commissioned the Office of Rail and Road to examine the statistics on the safety of smart motorways; the report was sent to the Secretary of State on 28 June 2021.
MPs will also question ministers and officials about the strategic and economic case for these motorways and the Government’s decision to abolish the dynamic hard shoulder.
In June 2016, the then Transport Committee published its report on all-lane running. Five years on, MPs will be examine the progress Highways and the Department for Transport have made in implementing the safety measures promised to its predecessors back in 2016.
Further information
Image: Parliamentary copyright