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| Smart motorway deaths: Jason Mercer's widow wants system stopped | Smart motorway deaths: Jason Mercer's widow wants system stopped |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The widow of a man killed on a "smart motorway" said she is suing Highways England for corporate manslaughter. | The widow of a man killed on a "smart motorway" said she is suing Highways England for corporate manslaughter. |
| Jason Mercer, 44, died on 7 June on the M1 near Sheffield, where the hard shoulder is now an active lane. | Jason Mercer, 44, died on 7 June on the M1 near Sheffield, where the hard shoulder is now an active lane. |
| He was involved in a minor collision but when he and the other driver got out to exchange details they were hit by a lorry. Both died at the scene. | He was involved in a minor collision but when he and the other driver got out to exchange details they were hit by a lorry. Both died at the scene. |
| His widow, Clare Mercer, said Highways England must reconsider using hard shoulders as live lanes. | His widow, Clare Mercer, said Highways England must reconsider using hard shoulders as live lanes. |
| The other driver was 22-year-old Alexandru Murgeanu from Mansfield. | |
| Ms Mercer, from Rotherham, said she "fell to the floor" when a police officer told her her husband was dead. | Ms Mercer, from Rotherham, said she "fell to the floor" when a police officer told her her husband was dead. |
| Two months later she is calling on Highways England to outlaw all-lane running and bring back hard shoulders. | Two months later she is calling on Highways England to outlaw all-lane running and bring back hard shoulders. |
| "Highways England failed in their duty of care to my husband and several other people and I'm encouraging others to take the same path as me," she said. | "Highways England failed in their duty of care to my husband and several other people and I'm encouraging others to take the same path as me," she said. |
| "I want the whole [smart motorway] system stopping with immediate effect while independent bodies analyse the facts." | "I want the whole [smart motorway] system stopping with immediate effect while independent bodies analyse the facts." |
| Jason Mercer and three others have died in the past year between junction 31 and 35 of the M1 where there is no hard shoulder. | Jason Mercer and three others have died in the past year between junction 31 and 35 of the M1 where there is no hard shoulder. |
| Smart motorways were installed to add extra lanes to the busiest motorways to make journeys safer and more reliable. | Smart motorways were installed to add extra lanes to the busiest motorways to make journeys safer and more reliable. |
| Sixteen miles of the M1 in South Yorkshire, between Meadowhall and Woodall, have had the hard shoulder replaced every mile or so by a refuge area. | Sixteen miles of the M1 in South Yorkshire, between Meadowhall and Woodall, have had the hard shoulder replaced every mile or so by a refuge area. |
| Highways England said overhead gantries advise drivers to move away from a blocked lane. | Highways England said overhead gantries advise drivers to move away from a blocked lane. |
| But vehicles can become stranded in live running lanes if they are not near a refuge area when they have to stop. | But vehicles can become stranded in live running lanes if they are not near a refuge area when they have to stop. |
| Highways England chief highway engineer Mike Wilson said safety was "top priority". | Highways England chief highway engineer Mike Wilson said safety was "top priority". |
| He said the UK's motorways are among the very safest roads in the world, and the latest generation of smart motorways have reduced casualty rates by over 25%. | He said the UK's motorways are among the very safest roads in the world, and the latest generation of smart motorways have reduced casualty rates by over 25%. |
| "We will continue to evaluate all lane running schemes and work closely with all the emergency services to ensure safety is maintained," Highways England said. | "We will continue to evaluate all lane running schemes and work closely with all the emergency services to ensure safety is maintained," Highways England said. |
| "Evidence shows where all-lane running has been introduced, there have been fewer collisions and congestion has reduced despite an increased number of vehicles using them." | "Evidence shows where all-lane running has been introduced, there have been fewer collisions and congestion has reduced despite an increased number of vehicles using them." |
| A 39-year-old man from Hull was arrested over the collision and has been released on bail pending further enquiries. | A 39-year-old man from Hull was arrested over the collision and has been released on bail pending further enquiries. |
| Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk. |