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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jun/30/mps-call-to-scrap-dangerous-hard-shoulder-motorway-plan
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| MPs call to scrap 'dangerous' hard shoulder motorway plan MPs call to scrap 'dangerous' hard shoulder motorway plan | |
| (5 months later) | |
| Plans to convert more hard shoulders into permanent driving lanes to ease congestion should be scrapped amid safety fears, MPs have recommended. | Plans to convert more hard shoulders into permanent driving lanes to ease congestion should be scrapped amid safety fears, MPs have recommended. |
| The government intends to expand motorway capacity by converting hundreds of miles of hard shoulder into permanent lanes, known as “all-lane running”. | The government intends to expand motorway capacity by converting hundreds of miles of hard shoulder into permanent lanes, known as “all-lane running”. |
| But an inquiry by MPs on the Commons transport select committee concluded the plan is too dangerous and has not been properly considered. | But an inquiry by MPs on the Commons transport select committee concluded the plan is too dangerous and has not been properly considered. |
| Current “smart motorway” schemes have only used the hard shoulder at peak times or to deal with congestion. | Current “smart motorway” schemes have only used the hard shoulder at peak times or to deal with congestion. |
| The new plans would permanently convert hard shoulders into traffic lanes to increase capacity, with a 60% increase in motorway traffic forecasted by 2040. | The new plans would permanently convert hard shoulders into traffic lanes to increase capacity, with a 60% increase in motorway traffic forecasted by 2040. |
| Opening up hard shoulders to traffic is seen as a cheaper and less disruptive alternative to widening motorways with extra lanes. | Opening up hard shoulders to traffic is seen as a cheaper and less disruptive alternative to widening motorways with extra lanes. |
| But the report published on Thursday by the transport committee warns ministers to call a halt to “all-lane running” schemes while major safety concerns exist. | But the report published on Thursday by the transport committee warns ministers to call a halt to “all-lane running” schemes while major safety concerns exist. |
| The MPs did not agree with the government that future schemes are an “incremental change” and a logical extension of previous schemes, where hard shoulders were used during rush-hour congestion. | The MPs did not agree with the government that future schemes are an “incremental change” and a logical extension of previous schemes, where hard shoulders were used during rush-hour congestion. |
| Chair of the transport select committee, Louise Ellman MP, said: “The permanent removal of the hard shoulder is a dramatic change. | Chair of the transport select committee, Louise Ellman MP, said: “The permanent removal of the hard shoulder is a dramatic change. |
| “All kinds of drivers, including the emergency services, are genuinely concerned about the risk this presents. | “All kinds of drivers, including the emergency services, are genuinely concerned about the risk this presents. |
| “It is undeniable that we need to find ways of dealing with traffic growth on the strategic network. But “all-lane running” does not appear to us to be the safe, incremental change the department wants us to think it is.” | “It is undeniable that we need to find ways of dealing with traffic growth on the strategic network. But “all-lane running” does not appear to us to be the safe, incremental change the department wants us to think it is.” |
| MPs say the scheme on the M42 has a good safety track record but newer schemes are less safe and public awareness about how and when to use the hard shoulder is insufficient. | MPs say the scheme on the M42 has a good safety track record but newer schemes are less safe and public awareness about how and when to use the hard shoulder is insufficient. |
| Plans are in place to permanently convert the hard shoulder into a traffic lane on around 300 miles of motorway, with 30 schemes proposed. | Plans are in place to permanently convert the hard shoulder into a traffic lane on around 300 miles of motorway, with 30 schemes proposed. |
| RAC chief engineer David Bizley said: “While supporting smart motorways as a cost-effective and relatively rapid way of increasing motorway capacity, the RAC has repeatedly expressed concerns about the latest design, which turns the hard shoulder on motorways into a permanent running lane. | RAC chief engineer David Bizley said: “While supporting smart motorways as a cost-effective and relatively rapid way of increasing motorway capacity, the RAC has repeatedly expressed concerns about the latest design, which turns the hard shoulder on motorways into a permanent running lane. |
| “The safety of motorists must come first and therefore new designs need to be trialled for sufficiently long to demonstrate their safety before they are introduced more widely.” | “The safety of motorists must come first and therefore new designs need to be trialled for sufficiently long to demonstrate their safety before they are introduced more widely.” |
| Edmund King, the AA president, added: “Breaking down on a motorway in a live running lane is every driver’s worst fear. | Edmund King, the AA president, added: “Breaking down on a motorway in a live running lane is every driver’s worst fear. |
| “Right from the outset the AA raised substantive safety concerns, also voiced by our members, over the dangers of breaking down on a motorway without a hard shoulder or with an inadequate number and size of lay-bys. | “Right from the outset the AA raised substantive safety concerns, also voiced by our members, over the dangers of breaking down on a motorway without a hard shoulder or with an inadequate number and size of lay-bys. |
| “Whilst we need to increase capacity and reduce congestion we must ensure that we are not cutting corners, which compromise safety just to reduce costs.” | “Whilst we need to increase capacity and reduce congestion we must ensure that we are not cutting corners, which compromise safety just to reduce costs.” |
| A Department for Transport spokesman said: “’All-lane running’ roads are designed to be as safe as ordinary motorways. | A Department for Transport spokesman said: “’All-lane running’ roads are designed to be as safe as ordinary motorways. |
| “In the two ‘all-lane running’ sections on the M25, accidents were down 17% and casualty rates fell by 21% in the first year. | “In the two ‘all-lane running’ sections on the M25, accidents were down 17% and casualty rates fell by 21% in the first year. |
| “As the committee recognise, the busiest journey times have almost halved, and overall journey times are more reliable and predictable than before.” | “As the committee recognise, the busiest journey times have almost halved, and overall journey times are more reliable and predictable than before.” |