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

[@yvonnemorris6574]

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

[@ashley_neal]

You should, and they will close a lane off until you have emerged safely. The example looked like it was a stop for a different reason to a breakdown. Nice point 👍🏼

[@koreainsincere]

Correct. Never, ever try to emerge from a refuge area into a live lane. Call Highways and get them to operate a temporary lane closure, unless of course you want to be smashed to smithereens by an approaching artic.

[@mk1aquatic739]

@@koreainsincere if only they'd thought of putting in a hard shoulder...the traffic congestion and hold ups caused by trying to get a vehicle back into a smart motorway are unbelievable, believe me I've been stuck in the aftermath of it! All that massive disruption closing a lane and having to wait for the traffic plebs to turn up just to get 1 vehicle back on, has to be seen to be believed! There's no way this is 'smart', we've gone backwards!

[@koreainsincere]

@@mk1aquatic739 Couldn't agree more!

[@ElliottParkinson]

I hate these roads. The speed limits make no sense (even when you have another driver 10 miles up the road). People get confused and are in the wrong lanes. People make mistakes and people die. I agree we need something different, but the old hard shoulder method was safer. Sure theres more congestion that way, but peoples lives are more important then a slightly faster journey.

[@ExtantThylacine]

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

[@Antonhein]

And that HE are smart, too.

[@ianhill4585]

Built on the cheap, save the trouble and money building new lane, So nick the safety breakdown/ medical emergency lane, it's playing "Russian roulette motoring."

[@Deathhead68]

My issue with them is how speed limits can change so quickly and drastically, forcing braking when it isn't needed. Should never really brake on a motorway.

[@magikjoe3789]

The 'smart ' part of a smart motorway is a person. An operator. An unreliable, distraction prone human being, watching screens. Its bloody dangerous. It has cost lives. If you find yourself with a dying car on a smart motorway and you're not fortunate enough to be within reachable distance of the one-per-mile refuge areas, my advice is, get into he left lane if you can, hazards lights, exit nearside door, run upstream about half a mile, get away from the carriageway but still within sight of traffic and do whatever you can to warn any traffic that there is a problem ahead. Because you are the first on scene. You could save lives. It really is that serious.

[@MrAndrewFarrow]

@@ianhill4585 the bridges aren’t wide enough!!

[@Dominate955]

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

[@Maddmank]

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

[@squeakers27]

My father once had the sidewall of his rear tyre just fail unexpectedly and explode. A car with a flapping around tyre will not be able to keep up doing 60-70 for a whole mile to a refuge point. At best in that situation, you would be limping at 20-30 in the far left lane but with large lorries having to dramatically slow down or change lane to not hit you. I think Smart Motorways are a poor idea as we shouldn't exchange safety (and the hard shoulder concept everyone is familiar with) for a small improvement in congestion. No matter how many lanes you add, it doesn't improve the traffic. We've seen it all before.

[@vicki6357]

I don't like the smart motorways at all bring back the old school of motorway driving with the hard shoulder only used for emergency break downs I have never have liked them or trusted them 1 bit they are evil

[@chrisdevine4848]

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

[@marekvyhnicka7172]

Oh yeah, same here. Following speed limit ,you get abused and tailgated. 30 and 40 is worst.

[@JdeBP]

My father once pointed out that there's a bit of observational bias here. You see all of the cars overtaking you. You do not see all of the cars that are doing the same speed as you.

[@MPal24]

@@JdeBP Agree with both points, but I've definitely found that there's something about 40 limits that people just can't abide. They think it means they can do 50. I drive in and out of Manchester a lot, and the A580 is 40 mph for a really long way into Manchester, even though it's dual carriageway. The reason is because of how busy it is, how many junctions it has, the fact that really built-up residential areas feed directly onto it. You'll be very hard pressed to find anyone who sticks to 40 on it though. Except, of course, when they see a big yellow speed camera box at the side of the road.

[@richardeggett392]

@@JdeBP try doing the speed limit for several miles, just see how many drive up your backside or beep and flash you. it might just be in my area but i think not

[@neilclark2245]

same here - if the speed limit were 200mph and I were doing that, there would be some knob flashing me to get out of the way

[@tdoubt100]

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

[@noizeuk]

Tony, good to hear that you are able to reflect and be critical of yourself. Have a look for some blue light runs by emergency services on youtube, they talk so calmly yet under immense pressure and danger when driving. I tried to copy how they talk and think and it's quite calming.

[@paulmerron3947]

Thats a long time to be driving Tony. 44 years is a very long journey

[@BobBob-tr9bc]

get a room you two

[@fredflintstone2077]

I hope you are not driving a lorry. They have limits on how long you can drive for and I'm pretty sure 45 years is over the limit. On a serious note, I love the adrenaline and stress. Makes me feel alive.

[@Wonderkid44]

Good, you need to calm down.

[@MrWrob32]

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.

[@justamanchimp]

I've come to realise that age and experience is just a number with driving. I've seen terrible driving at all ages and experience levels. It all comes down to the mentality, and you can be any age or experience level to learn the correct mentality. I was 19 and already driving at a way higher standard than the majority of people because I learnt this from day one. I would see people 3x older than me driving terribly and it would infuriate me, it would rub salt in the wound. Because I was a young male driver, my insurance quotes would be 10x the amount of that "experienced" driver. But yeah, that's the biggest part of Ashleys content. He really drills in how to think correctly and like you say, it keeps us grounded as drivers.

[@devilscritic]

When driving now I think WWAD? - what would Ashley do?

[@ScottyDog345]

His dad was right back for Liverpool

[@MeTube3]

@@ScottyDog345 Ashley was also on Liverpool’s books though he didn’t have any first team appearances.

[@james-5560]

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.

[@ajstevens1652]

@TOYOTA Boyz Same thing in Australia. Lane discipline is not very good.

[@Sparky-vj2dq]

Yep. I think there's a huge psychological aversion to getting stuck behind slower vehicles in Lane 1. Even when there are none in sight people won't take the chance and stay in the overtaking lanes.

[@MrJohnny3shoes]

@TOYOTA Boyz I've been driving in US for many years and unlike the brits there's never an issue with lane hoggers. They just pass on either side.

[@MrJohnny3shoes]

@TOYOTA Boyz I've done most miles on the I4 in Florida. It is ranked No 1 in most fatalities per mile in US. On the surrounding highways it's the same, it's never an issue. The brits complain about lane hoggers, they even complain if you undertake them.

[@R0ssMM]

@@MrJohnny3shoes That's because it's usually illegal to undertake on a UK motorway. Therefore a lane hogger can only legally be passed on the outside, so if they're in the fastest lane you can't legally pass them.

[@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....

[@777doom]

At a speed awareness course they said that when the limit changes on a gantry, it's a full minute before any speed cameras are set for that new limit. It would obviously be ridiculous to immediately enforce a speed limit that has changed without prior warning - but it only takes one person without common sense to cause a pile up in this instance

[@speedokds]

But you had to do that course to find that out…

[@theequalizer3330]

60 seconds grace, you may still get flashed but you won’t receive anything, iv had it more than once.

[@illegalopinions4082]

Those gantries have zero grace period. If they come on even as you go past them you get flashed.

[@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.

[@jackw7714]

Interestingly although there are issues they ultimately save lives. The reason why is quite boring though - less speeding

[@bazzacuda_]

There are problems with Smart motorways, most of which I see as coming down to the quality of Highways Agency oversight.

[@midlandsdriver9667]

It is a sad story. But her husband died because a truck driver wasn’t paying attention. Her husband joined the M1 north and had a minor RTC with a van. Both cars were drivable, but they went and stopped in a live lane. Just short of a sign saying ERA 1 mile. They then stood in the live lane. Not over the barrier away from the vehicles. Something like 130 vehicles managed to get pass them without colliding. Not one person called 999 to alert anyone. Then a truck driver, who has since been jailed, collided with them. Would they still be alive if there was a hard shoulder? Probably. Would they still be alive if the truck driver was paying attention? Would they still be alive if someone rang 999 and said there was vehicles stopped in a live lane? Probably. I feel desperately sorry for Claire Mercer, I cannot imagine what she’s going through. But to throw ALL the blame on a road design is to ignore other failings.

[@THE-BUNKEN-DRUM]

@@midlandsdriver9667 : It's sad how things like this, need to be explained to "adults"

[@andycole6982]

What I can't understand is that someone who should be keeping their distance and observing what is going on, is it too much to ask for people to look forward, runs into the back of a stationary vehicle at high enough speed to kill and it is the roads fault!

[@whitesapphire5865]

Someone once called them [not so] "smart murderways". Lethal lanes is what I call them. I'm not surprised that people are reluctant to drive on what for decades has been drummed into us as hard shoulders. From my own experience I know it's a very odd and uncomfortable feeling. My gut instinct is to slow down and go into tunnel vision mode, like driving in fog, peering into the distance, looking out for hazards like broken down cars. I don't see any improvement in traffic conditions by using so-called smart technology, but I do see potential for more fatalities, especially in adverse weather. The greatest danger comes from the inordinately long time between the vehicle being stranded, and anything appearing on the warning matrices, then the delay before help arrives.

[@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.

[@ashleigh.]

A lot of the time, they're breaking up traffic waves, which is why it looks like they're "crying wolf." To make things faster counter intuitively actually makes things slower, and then you come out the other end going "where was the problem causing traffic?" I watched those traffic snakes vanish with the introduction of smart motorways in my area. I don't agree with the removal of hard shoulders though.

[@lvgio]

love ur channel richard!

[@nathanbloke]

Oncoming traffic is a pretty immediate and extreme danger. Shocked that an ADI suggested exceeding the speed limit was a reasonable response.

[@PalladinPoker]

@@nathanbloke Its because 20mph on a road that wide with such extreme visibility is beyond a joke, even with the oncoming traffic. I have had contraflows without cones that had a 60 limit. Unless there is a lorry rolled over blocking at least all but one lane then its hard to argue for a limit below 40mph. Basically on a road that size the rapidly approaching traffic from behind was a greater risk than the oncoming vehicle would be. Closing speeds are hard to judge when you are going the same direction.

[@RonSeymour1]

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.

[@highdownmartin]

Could he be driving an old transit with the rest of the cabinet in it?

[@RonSeymour1]

@@highdownmartin None of them would go.

[@seekeroftruthandjust]

Highways agency do not monitor the smart motorways They are called smart motorways because cameras monitor the lanes and it is the cameras that determine the speed of that lane depending on how close together the traffic is or will close the lane if a vehicle is detected stationary

[@RonSeymour1]

@@seekeroftruthandjust Yes, that does happen but they still require monitoring. There can be fatal delays in reporting, not always picked up by staff monitoring the cameras, particularly if short-staffed. This is an extract from an article on the subject. Not everything about the system is automated, though: supervision is needed to manage the use of the hard shoulder and to spot any problems as they happen, such as vehicles broken down and unable to get out of the way of traffic. The blanket CCTV coverage allows every inch of tarmac to be monitored. The CCTV cameras, and the actions of the automated computer controller, are fed into a control centre where Highways Agency staff continually monitor what's happening and can intervene or override the automatic system. They can also communicate with Highways Agency Traffic Officers on the ground and direct them towards incidents.

[@pauliboo2]

Staff at the Highways Agency monitoring smart motorways said that the system that detects breakdowns in live lanes was broken 3 out of the last 4 days!!

[@BridgeToGantry]

Taking all factors into account, "smart" motorways are bloody dangerous.

[@ianhill4585]

Agreed ,motoring Russian roulette.

[@mrsthatcher9815]

deadly

[@richardoakley8800]

More road workers are killed on normal motorways than smart motorways.

[@BridgeToGantry]

@@richardoakley8800 What point do you think you're making?

[@richardoakley8800]

Smart motorways are safer. according to evidence submitted by the Department for Transport (DfT) to the Commons transport select committee inquiry into the roads, more deaths occurred on ALR motorways compared with conventional motorways during 2018 and 2019. For 2018, the fatality rate on ALR motorways was recorded at 0.19 per hundred million vehicle miles, compared with 0.14 fatalities per hundred million vehicle miles on conventional motorways. In 2019 the figures were 0.14 on ALR motorways and 0.13 on conventional motorways. Don't let silly little facts get in the way of your delusions

[@jillp1840]

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.

[@jfletcher1029]

M25 is awful.

[@ibs5080]

Totally agree with all that you wrote, especially the frustration of having to obey a limit when there is clearly no hazard other than the risk of triggering a camera. Oh and as a Canterbury resident, hope you had a pleasant time in my home town!

[@johnb8956]

I agree. You should never have a high traffic, high speed road with no hard shoulder. It’s ludicrous

[@angina50]

@@ibs5080 What a lovely place to live.

[@jillp1840]

@@ibs5080 My daughter was at uni there. So it was a 'pick up and run' situation! But we're back down next month for leisure (well, to use up hotel room credit for an unused room because of cancelled graduation because of you-know-what)

[@jamietaylor5570]

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.

[@TheBananaman491]

yea thats what worries me as a motorcyclist i dont exactly have a big metal box to protect me and i dont use a mobile phone i dont have the need for one so i'd be screwed if my grandad is alone aswell he wouldnt be able to call anyone as he also doesnt use a mobile and its probably the same with a lot of elderly drivers

[@jeepxj8903]

Also, I would imagine the first 30sec of being Stationary are the most dangerous. I doubt the signs are capable of reacting anywhere near quickly enough.

[@cooper8t]

Almost everytime I'm on a motorway, I pass at least one vehicle with its hazards on in the hard shoulder, or a recovery vehicle etc. I honestly have no clue how taking a hard shoulder away is "smart". Maybe in twenty years time when electric vehicles don't break down and motorway speeds are fixed at 60mph, maybe smart motorways make sense. As for right now, they appear to be dangerous.

[@PointNemo9]

80mph please

[@TheRip72]

@@PointNemo9 I can't see 80mph ever being introduced. Lorries are restricted to 60 (most limited to less) so if one pulled out in front of a car doing 80, that is a closing speed of 20mph, which is too great. Motorways are now too congested to raise limits.

[@pleasantville4529]

@@TheRip72 I'm not in favour of either increasing or decreasing the speed limit on our motorways. However,your comment begs the question "why would a HGV pull out on any approaching vehicle" ? Regardless of any speed issues the HGV driver would be at fault for impeding the motorist.

[@PointNemo9]

@@TheRip72 Raising limits would help to ease congestion, journey times would be shorter. Also, drivers would know they need to be prepared for faster moving traffic

[@richardbower8707]

When we all have smart electric cars, all talking to each other via Bluetooth, we’ll have car trains doing 150 mph with 3cm gaps between them… it’s humans that are the problem…

[@richardnicholson3912]

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.

[@1234minecraftable]

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.

[@edrose5045]

Worth noting that in my experience, the cameras aren't switched on if there is no variable speed limit in force. "My experience" being that I've always gone past those cameras at 'normal motorway speed' when the signs are off, and never got a speeding ticket for it

[@ap9970]

@@edrose5045 As someone that drives on the M25/M3 nearly everyday, I witness camera flashes when the signs are off a few times a week, these are normally for people doing 85+

[@chrissambrook84]

@@edrose5045 the yellow ones at the side of the gantry will work even with the signs off.

[@edrose5045]

Fair enough, I stand corrected

[@kal9001]

While I can't condone the behaviour of the driver behind, I do also find it very frustrating when a 'slow' driver is in lane 3 overtaking another only slightly slower driver... You doing 70, them doing 69, and a half mile long slug of traffic in lane 3 all waiting to get past you... I know you're not doing anything illegal or wrong, and that the speeding drivers shouldn't be speeding, but still... I find the motorway MUCH less stressful when I'm passing people. I tried playing the 70mph game, and find you either end up being the one holding up lane 3 doing 70 while you pass lorry after lorry, or giving in and being stuck behind/between lorries at 55. It seems far more productive for all involved to get in lane 3, and keep up with the flow, usually high 70's upto 85, and leave the HGV's well behind to their own nonsense. The worst congestion I see when I commute is always due to someone in lane 3 driving slowly and creating this heaping effect in all the lanes behind them. It's particularly devastating when that heap reaches the end of the M18 where it merges to the M1S. Because of the heaping effect as soon as a car slows to find a spot to merge, the whole row going back a mile or more has to slow, and slow, and slow with every car that merges they get a little slower and the slower they go the harder it is to merge. Which also brings me on to drivers who seem to think "slip roads" have their own special 40, or 50 mph speed limit... so they accelerate quickly to 40, then just hold there, all the way to the end of the slip road and try to merge... Often on that same M18>M1S merge, they will slow from 70, to ~45 to merge into a free running lane, to speed back up in a panic to outrun the lorry now bearing down on them... O.o

[@drahcirnevarc9152]

What I like about this chap is that, despite myself being mainly a rule-follower, he prioritises safety over rule-following.

[@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.

[@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.

[@duck74UK]

The dynamic speed limit parts of the M25 has made things so much better in my experience. It's been years since i've had to come to a stop on the section I use. (Although mind you, I mostly use it on Sundays)

[@javidrana3720]

Wow you are lucky. M25 is a nightmare, if it's not traffic due to usage, its people slowing down to look at the aftermath of an accident, even on the other side!

[@jamesgoodman5905]

Not a fan. Induced demand theory shows time and again that extra lanes actually increase traffic (e.g. Los Angeles or Houston having 20 lane sections and them being giant carparks). The reduction in safety due to no hard shoulder is not worth a maybe temporary increase in capacity until traffic gets worse than previous. And honestly, in this day and age, we should be spending on reducing lanes, public transport and walkability/ cycle lanes in order to catch up with our peers like the Netherlands and reduce carbon emissions.

[@wibbley1]

I remember all the roadworks on the Surrey stretch of the M25 for road widening. Was horrendous. When the extra lanes opened, it was bliss, no more stationary traffic for miles on end. Did not take long for it to return to it's former self, just more lanes of stationary traffic.

[@thecraigmachine69]

Couldn’t agree more and everything you said is absolutely true.

[@kenbrown2808]

I believe "induced demand" is a vessel of fertilizer dreamed up by people who wish all cars would go away. my evidence of this is that my city has not increased capacity on the highway running through town and it has still turned into a carpark. the fact of the matter is that as population density increases, demand increases, whether capacity is increased or not. the real question that should be asked is whether to add capacity in a smart manner, or haphazardly with no eye towards efficient movement of people.

[@jamesgoodman5905]

@@kenbrown2808 I sympathise with your perspective and agree that capacity should be added in a positive way. However, cars are not smart in most situations. The physical space a car takes up is super inefficient at transporting people compared to bikes or public transport, let alone the fuel inefficiency for pushing around literal tons of weight for usually one person (still not as effective with a full car). Cars will always exist but they should really be reserved for: areas lacking in sufficient alternate transport links (countryside), disabled people, emergency services or tradespeople. A vast majority or journeys are a few miles at the most and that is an easy walk, bike or public transport journey which doesnt contribute much to traffic while a short car trip is wildly inefficient. As someone who has driven cars, I understand their appeal and the desire to not let them go but if we want safer, faster and eco friendly cities then cars do have to start being phased out for investment in public transport and bike infrastructure. I would recommend the channel Not Just Bikes for further videos on the subject- very well researched and informative.

[@kenbrown2808]

@@jamesgoodman5905 i actually find his videos to be a bit on the "everybody should be just like me" bias. I'm not sure he recognizes that tradesmen, delivery services and freight delivery are a thing. Plus, anybody who has a fixation on everything that isn't bike dominant being a stroad is also a bit biased. Fact of the matter is that high density transit only works above a certain population density, and i haven't really seen a good medium density transit concept, yet. Also, while it would be good if a couple miles a trip was an easy people powered commute, most of the us population would have to work up to that. But i agree that it's time for less dependence on cars. I just don't agree that the way to achieve it is to discriminate against people who don't have the option to not drive. Addendum: and in places with poor transit options, cars can be way more efficient in time and aggravation, because they can go directly.

[@CZ350tuner]

One can only activate the hazard light providing the vehicle still has a functioning electrical system. Also a breakdown in fog on a live hard shoulder running lane is lethal.

[@IfUfindthisURlost]

I totally agree. This electrical issue is the first situation that popped into my head. I've only had this happen to me once, in 35 years on the road, when all electrics fail (signals, speedometer, lights) but it was damn scary (even with power to the engine and in daylight) to pull across a live lane, from lane two, to the old hard shoulder, without any way to signal (other than hand). Fortunately, I had a red triangle to deploy, as the next best option and glad of the hard shoulder. Had it been night on a 'smart' motorway, no chance!

[@garybrindle6715]

Military drivers are all taught to leave motorways when fog happens.

[@chaoringmeister]

Statistics on the smart motorways would be really interesting to look at. It can reduce congestion in theory but I imagine that is based upon people using the correct lanes and correct following distance, I see far too often people following to close at national speed limits, so reducing speeds fails to gain the outcome of getting a reduced following distance as intended. I also understand people being uncomfortable with using a hard shoulder in a smart motorway, because under normal running a lot of road debris and detritus gets swept onto there, and I have had punctures from running over small sharp objects on a managed motorway.

[@midlandsdriver9667]

National Highways produces Post Opening Project Evaluation (POPE) reports 12 months and 5 years after reopening if you’re interested. There is currently a trial ongoing in Northamptonshire with regards to a tailgating camera technology. You can see it between junction 16 and 15a on the southbound. So that could be interesting…

[@Flossie1985]

The Highways Agency trumpeted statistics for the M62 section about how much time people save over weeks and months. It worked out at three minutes per journey at peak times, so inconsequential weighed against the years of delays whilst they're created and the additional risks they create such as live lane breakdowns.

[@steve6173]

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

[@ashley_neal]

Agreed! This for me stops motorist sticking to the limits when it is required.

[@steve6173]

@@ashley_neal I had it yesterday day on the M62 where the limit was 50, changed to 40 for next to no reason just as i went under it. There was a camera on the gantry too. Be interesting too see what happens

[@adamspencer95]

@@steve6173 I've always thought about this - surely there has to be a grace period after a change to allow cars already at/under the gantry through as it would be dangerous, if not impossible, for them to react at that point.

[@1stwalker]

The reason they do this is to stop jams forming. When one car brakes (say if a lorry overtakes a lorry) , typically the car behind it brakes harder and so on. This causes a wave of braking to travel backwards down the motorway. Eventually this will cause a traffic jam to form with no real cause other than drivers behind driving into the area too quickly. The highways agency use radar to detect areas where this is likely to happen and slow down the traffic behind to try and prevent it. If you don't meet any traffic in the area it is doing it's job correctly.

[@bellshooter]

@@adamspencer95 Yes there is a lag between the speed limit change and cameras recording for an offence. I have run through several just as they changed with no consequence.

[@bobhope4395]

There was some sort of study done by the AA which was highly critical of the smart motorways. I recall something along the lines of broken down vehicles not being detected quickly enough. Plus my experience of smart motorways are they are useless. I have hours and hours of footage showing pointless slow downs, showing unnecessary use of the changing speed limit and even some of the worst excuses from the highways agency about why.

[@trainman665]

The ‘unnecessary slow downs and speed limits changing’ is actually proof that they work. The changing speed limits it’s to reduce congestion by slowing down approaching traffic before it gets to the problem/queue. It stops the traffic just bunching up creating ever longer queues.

[@bobhope4395]

@@trainman665 lol, yeah right.

[@BenSenneck92]

I wouldn’t believe a word that the AA publishes. Tout themselves as the “fifth emergency service” the leave people stranded on the roadside for 5+ hours on a regular basis.

[@trainman665]

@@bobhope4395 I’m against smart motorways, just pointing out what you describe is actually how they are meant to work. Unfortunately often they aren’t affective enough though.

[@khalidacosta7133]

Had a similar experience a couple of years back when driving up the M6 at 11pm in the dark. Motorway speed limit was set to 20 or 30. I stuck to it but drivers were absolutely hammering it down and it made me scared because of the carnage if one person wasn't paying attention. It got to the point, I pulled out my phone to call the police because it was ridiculous. Luckily, got to the end so decided not to. A few months later, read a news article, the speed limit was set in error and HUNDREDS of cars were fined for speeding. Even though the limit was in error, the speed limit was still valid and all those drivers got points on their licenses!

[@henryginn7490]

Adding lanes to ease congestion is a bit of a bodge job solution even though it seems intuitive. The safety benefits of having a hard shoulder far outweigh the benefits of using it as an extra traffic lane

[@Mrfort]

Would be better to "intraduce" varible speed limits for the lane : fifty for lane one , 60 for lane two ,seventy for lane three?

[@davidthornton9214]

I regularly drive on these 'smart' motorways, and as mentioned in the video, lane 1 is barely used, other than as an exit filter lane. Also, rather than the oblivious being sat in the middle lane, they sit in lane three.

[@samkelly9784]

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.

[@IamRyanLPs]

My local "motorway" which is a dual carriageway, the A14 has smart signs to alert to possible trouble but retains its hard shoulder. I don't think we ever should have removed hardahoulders, and if they wanted a extra lane. Simply found the money to add an extra lane, not repurpose a very important part of a mortorway.

[@Richard_Barnes]

@3.30 - If the sign says 20, then I’m doing 20 no matter what people are doing behind. As far as I’m aware, once they are activated, so are the speed cameras ready to catch people speeding. So why would I speed up to suit the folk behind who are disobeying, ergo, illegally speeding? @1.25 hmm, I’ve always slowed down when I see those speed signs too. Why put it up if it’s not best to at least slow down a bit? However I need to remember they are only an advisory speed and not a mandatory speed limit (as per the red circle ones). With so many speed cameras on motorway near me (Nottingham), I tend to obey any speed sign as it’s just not worth the fine or points. They’ve ruined motorways for me 😉 😂 Gone are the days of …………….. Smart motorways are dangerous. Just search how many deadly accidents have occurred on them. They won’t work properly because a lot of UK drivers are clueless. The standard of driving in the UK is not high enough. Imagine some of our lot on an Autobahn? That would be carnage.

[@marekvyhnicka7172]

I had an opportunity to meet UK drivers on autobahn. Middle lane hogging and pulling in front of me doing 140mph was standard.

[@CristiNeagu]

It's one thing to follow the indications, and it's quite another to assume that they are correct, and true and they know best. I have rarely seen speed restrictions on a smart motorway that actually did more good than bad. All I see every single time I'm on one is massive congestion, followed by a 50 limit, then the no restrictions, and then the congestion slowly evaporates. This to me indicates that the speed limits are what cause congestion, not the other way around. I think this is done because they see some drivers moving at +80mph, and are creating walls of traffic to slow them down.

[@wibbley1]

@@CristiNeagu You have it backwards, there is congestion, so the speed limit signs come on to slow traffic behind, which stops rear end collisions and with the slower speed, allows the traffic to bunch up more, increasing the capacity of the road, when congestion ends, the speed is set back to national speed limit, but alas drivers do not understand and think it was the speed reduction itself that caused the congestion.

[@CristiNeagu]

@@wibbley1 Except that: 1. The speed limit itself increases the risk of rear end collisions as there is a lot of slow moving traffic on the outer lanes anyways. 2. A lot of the times there is no reason for there to be congestion, and by that I mean no stopped cars, no entry or exit ramps, no anything. 3. Traffic bunching up more increases the risk of collisions. From my personal experience (anecdotal, I know), it is very rare that there is a restriction for a safety related reason, and most of the time the speed restrictions are there for the express purpose of slowing traffic down.

[@hadorstapa]

A noticeable reduction in safety and a difficult-to-detect improvement in congestion seems like a fairly damning return on the investment in smart motorways.

[@rogerblackwood8815]

Agreed👍

[@magikjoe3789]

Try the M42 on the East Side of Birmingham, Ive been driving that section for nearly 30 years and the 'smart' motorway part has made it much much much worse. Today there were three changes of speed limit between two junctions. Surely a sensible protocol would be that if ANY section of a managed motorway has a speed reduction in place then ALL of that section should be running at the reduced speed. Think of traffic as a river. Having traffic at 70mph heading towards a 40 limit is certain to cause a problem. And why, with the available technology, aren't gantry cameras taking photos of every single car that continues in a red X closed lane?

[@flybobbie1449]

@@magikjoe3789 Always tells you to slow down to join the M40, why? Joining traffic as well has it's own lane.

[@dkphill2]

I drive on the motorways every week day as part of my job (Mainly M1, M62, M60 and the M6) i cover approx 3000 miles a week and this is what i tend to find. 1. Where there is a hard shoulder that sometimes opens "to allow the flow of traffic", when it is not in operation a minority of drivers still think its ok to drive as normal in the closed hard shoulder. 2. Where there are 4 lanes the majority of car drivers tend to only use lane 3 and 4 then swoop across lane 2 and 1 when it is their time to leave (Private hire cars seem to be the worst offender) 3. I enjoy the lighting show when cars by the dozen choose to ignore the red X and the speed camera flashes like a DJ's strobe light. 4. Between 9th January 2023 and 24th April (Today) i have called 999 27 times in my call log to tell the police that a car has stopped in a live lane of the motorway, i hope just one of those calls saved someones life. 5. I regret not buying a dash cam so i could sell my clips on youtube or make my own channel as im sure i could have made some decent money by now lol

[@Dave-bu6bc]

With smart motorways you're only one gantry glitch away from death, and gantries are notoriously glitchy. The more of these things we get, the more I'll stick to the A roads, there's always another route.

[@1234minecraftable]

A14 is a similar system now through Cambridge

[@reecehandley4662]

Totally agree that's why I dont pay any attention to them its absolute shambles out there at the minute

[@Batters56]

In order to build a “safe” smart motorway you need to build extra gantries, with electric signs, more emergency phones, refuge areas, electronic monitoring, then have a staffed centre to manage it, plus have traffic police always ready to help deal with an incident in lane one because it’s so dangerous. Then factor in the enquiries into all the deaths that have happened on smart motorways. And this is cheaper than widening by one extra lane which becomes the new hard shoulder?

[@Deathhead68]

Tbh yes, much much cheaper

[@tonyeldridge3087]

I drive a smart section of M1 everyday. There are sections where the solid line changes to a lane marking and no hard shoulder exists and sections that retain the hard shoulder. For the most part the motorway is normal running and I personally move to the new lane 1 and back again as the hard shoulder changes along the route. However at these transitions I have lost count of the people that barrel along the inside lane even after it’s changed back to a hard shoulder and somehow they miss the huge warning signs on the display board telling them not to use it. When the shoulder is opened up for legitimate use I then often find myself being one of very few people actually driving down it. As Ashley says, most people seem to sit out in lanes 3 and 4 while the inside lanes are running perfectly free.

[@ap9970]

I mainly use the M3/M25 where all the lanes live unless closed, when I have driven on the M1 with the hard shoulder I find it confusing. Only use hard shoulder when the says so? Use hard shoulder anytime, apart from when there is no red X?

[@tonyeldridge3087]

@@ap9970 on the M1 it’s hard shoulder. Not in use. But then there are sections that a sign reads end of hard shoulder. The solid separation line becomes a standard dashed lane marking and there is no longer a shoulder at all. Whilst being used as a smart motorway, the hard shoulder can be opened as a live lane also. I am referring to my usual route of between J10-J13. Both directions are similar in how they are marked out.

[@mrtomjayne]

Great Observations as usual. I find with Smart Motorways 1) I am reluctant to use the hard shoulder as a running lane when open, due to not trusting the system, and the road debris you find in the shoulder. Never because I'm unaware of its availability. I know I am actively contributing to reducing the capacity of the road, but I think my mentality is shared by a lot of reasonable people on the road. 2) the intelligent speed limits probably do their job most effectively when you never discover what they were there for in the first place. This is nice and all, reducing the congestion pro-actively, but creates complacency 3) They increase the feeling of stress with driving due to the increased frequency at which you are given information, and the increased variety of information. The most important safety and congestion "feature" is still going to be lane change observations, speed, and following distance. All this extra stuff to process makes those core skills harder. 4) It only takes a minority of drivers ignoring the signs to ruin it for everyone else

[@walterposs1212]

I completely agree! I wouldn't feel too comfortable using the hard shoulder because as you said the system currently can't be trusted and there have unfortunately been enough examples in the news to prove this. Smart Motorways just feel like a lazier and cheaper alternative to actually adding more lanes to motorways, instead they just recycle the layby, which is supposed to be for emergencies only.

[@stevesmith7530]

1, the shoulders are far more free of debris when used as running lanes. I drive on shoulders as running lanes an awful lot, and have never had a problem with debris, never picked up a puncture etc. 3, You should have so much information coming at you constantly when driving on the motorway, that such signs are a fraction of a single percent of the information you are processing. The core skills such as keep left, keep your distance should be near instinctive, require very little processing power overall. 4, Is no different from any other road, any other sign, even that mini-roundabout at the bottom of the street.

[@mrtomjayne]

@@stevesmith7530 I agree with you on all points. Number 1 - I'm in the wrong, and its something to get used to. Number 3 is more interesting. It's not the signs themselves, but the response to them from drivers, and they can create abnormal traffic situations on motorways which rely on consistency. Again, its just something to get used to, but its hard for that to happen in our current state where we have some sections, of some motorways, converted to smart running, and the rest of the network is still analogue.

[@owen4326]

Back in May this year I had a pretty bad accident on a “smart motorway” the speed limit had been reduced to 60, which I was sticking to (only had a little 1.2 Polo so couldn’t go much faster anyway 😂) and there was warning of an object on road. I’ve seen this warning before and stupidly assumed it was just going to be a plank of wood, runaway tyre or a ladder, something relatively small. I was sticking to the left hand lane for a fair while after seeing this sign and the traffic in this lane was building up (note at this point the overhead signs show all lanes are open and only advising 60mph) I knew there was an exit ahead and presumed the traffic was coming off of the exit, I didn’t have great vision as this section of the M62 curved slightly round a slightly corner, under a bridge. I decided to pull into the middle lane to pass the traffic that was begging to pile up, as I did so I saw 3 young people stood hugging the crash barriers in the left hand lane, I had my eye on them for about 2 seconds before looking ahead, when I did so, I drove straight into the back of their stationary vehicle (in the middle lane) at 55-60 mph and wrote off my car and theirs. I span out and amazing didn’t hit any other vehicles, their car was crushed in from the back and shoved forwards a fair whack. I’m very, very glad that there was nobody in the vehicle that I hit. I came out, amazingly, without any major injuries, just a VW logo burn on my arm where the airbag went off. Needless to say, I don’t trust the smart motorway warnings at all anymore and tend to drive under the speed limit advised if there is any sort of warning now.

[@sharp14x]

I assume this was far from the refuge area then?

[@owen4326]

@@sharp14x You’d think. The nearest one was actually about half a mile down the road, I did speak to the driver of the stationary vehicle after and he claims he lost all power and was unable to accelerate. He did also say that the drivers in the left lane would not open a gap for him to move into, with all the smooth brain gap closers in this country, I do sympathise tbh.

[@MK-1973]

Great summary Ashley and loads of really sound advice. Thanks as always. Not a fan of turning the hard shoulder into a running lane - you just end up with a wider traffic jam! And when traffic is light and speeds increase the extra lane isn't needed and the danger for anyone breaking down is increased massively. Also without a hard shoulder the emergency services could be delayed getting to a crash, with potentially tragic consequences. All in all a complete waste of time, effort and money in my view and totally counterproductive. The variable speed limits and information on gantry signs are generally very good I think, though not perfect - yes we're all sometimes frustrated by having to slow down for a non- incident. But how much time does it actually cost us to have to travel at say 50mph for 5 miles? The only other issue is drivers becoming over reliant on the warnings and not looking out for danger themselves. Not a reason not to have them though. Stay safe everyone.

[@nathanbloke]

His suggestion that driving 10mph 50% above the speed limit is reasonable is poor and reckless advice for an ADI to give.

[@MK-1973]

@@nathanbloke I don't recall Ashley ever suggesting that. What's your reference?

[@38mickbell]

The theory is sound, to ease the flow of traffic during busy times it makes us slow down, thereafter if we all drove the same speed well as opened up the space between us and the car in front the traffic would flow smoothly. But generally, drivers don’t! They continue to speed, accelerate and brake aggressively and thus we continue to cause congestion. Therefore, in relation to congestion, smart motor ways are a good idea however it’s the volume of traffic and our driving behaviours which are the biggest causes of congestion.

[@driving_all_over]

Yeah I’ve noticed this a lot as well, it’s very annoying

[@yoowan3437]

I had a conversation with some mates at the pub last week and 4 of the 6 guys there admitted to just sitting in the middle lane on 3 lane roads because it was "easier" "simpler" etc etc. I was completely shocked

[@picklesan772]

It never ceases to amaze me how much money they're spending (waisting) in the UK for car infrastructure, and how little they spend on public transport/bikelanes/sidewalks

[@KunaevNS]

Gotta keep the cash flow going

[@cupofcustard]

Too many mps with snouts in the trough.

[@adogmcdizzle]

Well look how crowded the roads are vs the cycle lanes…

[@val_solooo]

Because unless you`re going to work on your own it is usually much more convenient to go by car, and usually cheaper as well. Take London, zone 6 to 1 return trip is around 13 quid per adult, even ULEZ is cheaper and you can usually park for free on Sundays.

[@R0ssMM]

The lack of spending on cycle infrastructure I'd agree with, but things like Crossrail and HS2 show we spend a lot on public transport. The issue would be that the focus is mostly on London (or links to London), but that's largely a consequence of population density.

[@andrewphillips9391]

The M42 round Birmingham retains the hard shoulder and uses it as a lane when it's busy, plus I think the refuges are closer together. I don't mind that so much, but the M6 near where I live in Stoke is all lanes open with no hard shoulder, which I really do not like. If I'm driving north, I used the A50 instead and join at junction 20

[@toxictony4230]

And now you have the new section from J15 to J14. I had to travel down the M6 when My daughter was at Uni in Stoke. It was a continous horror story. For an almost flat and straight motorway people just seems to like driving into each other. The problem now is that the emergency services no longer has a hard shoulder to travel along and are just faced with four lanes of standing traffic to crawl through. Another great leap backwards.

[@melgrant7404]

Cameras will capture the crash when you break down as well as anything else glad Ashley acknowledges the danger of these motorways.

[@Vaudevillee]

I broke down in a lorry in lane one of a smart motorway, called the police. No one came out for 1 hour 30 minutes. Gantrys didn’t change to warn about me being broken down. People were nearly going into the back off me

[@chrispop99]

On the M25 recently, the limits were reduced with a sign saying Broken down vehicle in lane 1. Most drivers responded reasonably, merging together into lanes 2,3,4. Trouble was the vehicle had actually crashed into the barrier in lane 4! It caused a long gridlock, as those drivers in lane 4 had to try to squeeze across into already congested lanes. I don't trust the systems in place will keep me safe on a 'smart' motorway, and hate using them.

[@UGVIDEO_LTD]

M25 is the worst . 40 mile car park … what’s the point of these motorways and national speed limit if we are stuck doing 40 miles/hr … is it even reasonable . 60 is more reasonable

[@daviemaclean61]

I'm sure I read somewhere that when a dual carriageway is widened to three lanes each way it doesn't take long for the traffic volume to increase to occupy the available space. The only "smart" motorways I have been on were still under construction and were mile after mile of 50 mph and average speed cameras, however, I don't like the idea of them. The hard shoulder is a dangerous enough place to break down without it being a live lane too. There is a lot of reliance on the breaking/broken down driver knowing what to do and other drivers being observant and taking heed of the signs and speed limits. There appears to be a lot of assumption that everyone will behave and do the right thing.

[@CDB8939]

The Red X is also used to close a lane to create a clear corridor to allow Emergency vehicles to get to an incident. As soon as you see a Red X you need to get out of that lane and stay out of it until you pass a gantry that is no longer displaying X. The Cameras in my County are now working and will detect speed and Red X violations.

[@SiWeeMann]

I often use the M6 from J10A down to Birmingham. Frequently the hard shoulder is a live lane, but most people use lanes 1-3. I often benefit from what you saw at the end of the video - everything slows and you can make massive (if very careful!) progress.

[@FrostProject1]

Down here in Hampshire we're soon to have our M27 converted to a smart motorway, I'm sure your viewers down here would love to see more videos around this topic as many of us would've never driven on one before. Thanks for the great content 🤝

[@paul756uk2]

They're taking long enough getting it done! Though I don't use it a lot, it's a bloody pain when I do. Can't imagine how I'd get on using it every day.

[@RunnerBeanzDad]

They hard shoulder has already been removed; the refuge areas are not yet available; the overhead signalling has not yet been installed. Smart? Most definitely not!

[@ChilledGamerUK]

Just seen the signs for Southampton M3 junction up to Winchester Winnall Roundabout starting in Spring 2022 get put up along side average speed cameras (Currently not in use), went on for 9 miles-ish.

[@newforestukulelefestival]

I refuse to use the M27 now. There's always another way round. 'Smart' motorways are an accident waiting to happen.

[@steverax3497]

They actually dropped the word 'smart' from the signs and its been delayed another 6 months for 'stopped vehicle detection' technology. Apparently in a couple years they are going to rip up the metal barrier between J5-7 when they get rid of the concrete. So yet more delays in that area for a while!

[@SiRhodesDriverTraining]

3:28 looks like the report of the oncoming vehicle wasn’t clear about the location or direction of travel as the sign on the opposing carriageway has the same message.

[@midlandsdriver9667]

It’s displayed in both directions for a few reasons, one of which is incase the driver of the oncoming vehicle sees the sign and it clicks in his mind, he’s going the wrong way!

[@batluder]

I tried braking down on a motorcycle in Germany on a motorway like this. My engine just stopped, and I coasted from that point. I made it to the first lane, but that lane was full of trucks, and next to it was just soft grass. If I had moved my motorcycle to the grass, I would not have been able to move it again. I chose to drag my motorcycle to the next refuge. I kept my motorcycle on the white line, and chose to walk in the grass. My thinking was, that if a truck did not see me, it would "only" cost me my bike and one arm... Luckily it was in the daytime, and all trucks passed me without hitting my bike, and I reached the refuge and called the emergency service. But god, I was sweaty and scared...! I have broken down before on motorways with hard shoulders both in cars and on motorcycles, and while it can be a little scary in a car, if the space is narrow - you don't fear for your life.

[@richardbradley2641]

we have one near us and several times it said to slow down beware of flooding due to heavy rain, it had been sunny for WEEKS!! and on occasions its said beware FOG and it was 4 pm and bright sunshine !

[@jamesknightreading]

I wonder if people are using lanes 3 & 4 to avoid anyone broken down in lane 1, or those swerving into lane 2 to avoid them.

[@wibbley1]

After a near miss from a knobber pulling out of a refuse right in front of me, I never use the old hard shoulder on smart motorways. Numerous people undertake me, but let them ram into somebody broken down on the inside lane, it won't be me. I keep above 56mph so as not to be an issue to lorries. As ones brain is used to the cars in front moving, it takes a little time for the brain to realise the car in front is getting bigger very quickly! The cause of multi-vehicle stacks on motorways. I have experienced this myself and had to brake much harder than I would like to on a motorway. It all happens very quickly.

[@midlandsdriver9667]

Live lane breakdowns and other obstructions aren’t limited to lane 1… or smart motorways and conventional motorways either.

[@justin.trading]

@@wibbley1 hard shoulder should have a Red X if someone is in the refuse area, so they can safely pull out onto the hard shoulder to build up speed to join motorway safely. Personally I feel the hard shoulder on a smart motorway should have a speed restriction on it for safety reasons.

[@wibbley1]

@@justin.trading Indeed it should, however in reality, it does not. I had one near miss on the M23 in the summer and one only last week on the same road, when I broke my rule never to use the hard shoulder and yep, a box van pulled out from the refuge area into the live running hard shoulder right in front of me. So for me anyway, I will return to never using the hard shoulder and continue to potter along in the first real lane doing 56 to 60mph.

[@mrhuffler9791]

When encountering an illuminated speed limit sign on a motorway, I usually move to a lane where I don't feel intimidated by drivers who clearly want to ignore the limit. In other words allow them to 'crack on' if they want to. In the case shown of a smart motorway 20mph limit, I would feel very anxious if I was the last car in a lane with traffic approaching at speed and ignoring the speed limit. I think if anything people are more inclined to use lanes 2,3,4 of a smart motorway, and keep out of lane one (the old hard shoulder) because of their mistrust of its inherently dangerous nature - thus negating the whole smart motorway concept.

[@fetchstixRHD]

I wouldn't be surprised if, for the "smart" motorways that have a hard shoulder that sometimes is open, that people keep out of it for similar reasons to the "bus-lane phobia" that's often seen, that they don't want to run the risk of getting caught in there, even if signs show it's open (and even more so if it changes part way through).

[@AlexFerriroli]

M23 SB just over a week ago was the same situation with apparent oncoming vehicle, 20 speed limit everyone was overtaking 60+. I had to do 30-35 to help avoid any further danger from behind!

[@UGVIDEO_LTD]

Had a similar incident on the M25 . Its dangerous . Unfortunately there is no win for us . If we drive at the speed limit with sudden change such as 20-30-40 mile we are at the risk of being rear ended and if we are above these speed limit even by a small amount then a risk of points . Utter crap these are

[@kevtheargonut]

Interesting Ashley, thanks for sharing. You said in the case of breaking down and not getting to a refuge “The advice given is to keep your seatbelt on and dial 999”. That just about says all that needs to be said about smart motorways with no hard shoulder. It is very unusual for a car to have a mechanical fault that prevents it from getting to a continuous hard shoulder. Once on the hard shoulder, you would exit the vehicle to a safe spot and call the “recovery” services rather than the “emergency” services. The advice given in quotes above makes it crystal clear that the authorities know that compared to a breakdown on a motorway with a hard shoulder, the potential outcome of a breakdown on one of these ridiculous roads is massively worsened. My view is we should get rid of smart motorways with no continuous hard shoulder, and clamp down on the true cause of the majority of congestion on motorways and major highways in the U.K., which is of course poor lane discipline. A mandatory DWDC for poor lane discipline would incentivise the police to nick such drivers and hopefully (like drink driving) make it appropriately anti social, putting a few off doing it relentlessly, saving a fortune on the roads budget at the same time.

[@leesullivan1916]

As of yet I've never used one, But on paper I genuinely don't like the idea from a safety reason... Especially as I'm unable to get out of my car on the left side, or get out of my car with any urgency.

[@misterflibble9799]

We have had a "Smart Motorway" in our area for about 7 years. I'm not convinced that it's done much to reduce congestion. We still have the same queues in the same areas at the same times. A lot of the traffic on the section is local, and given that the cost of the scheme was approx. £100m, one wonders what else they could have done with that money to facilitate other forms of transport.

[@Albert5522]

Very useful cheers Ashley! Never been on a smart motorway myself.

[@lizstubbs2969]

I haven't noticed a difference in congestion, I feel the same about the live lane its a worry that you're not in a closed lane, I agree the technology can fail you could be in any lane and the camera might not pick you up, I had breakdown once and managed to get to hard shoulder out of the car and felt safe had no problems, much prefer this to smart system personally

[@davidellis8141]

Disagree with ‘smart motorways’ chance of being able to make about 1 mile to safe area is laughable. My opinion is gross stupidity I agree with gantry giving rolling advice but having traveled on a few I keep out of lane 1 and don’t think signage is up to date. Wasn’t aware that flashing lights is advisory.

[@sadoldgit313]

In whose fantasy world did they imagine this “Smart Motorway” system of using the fourth lane wouldn’t end up in deaths?

[@yesnomaybe955]

Broke down on the smart motorway just after Knutsford (no hard shoulder), luckily I got over to lane 1 and could get my motorbike far enough over that even HGV's could pass in lane 1 safely but the cameras did not pick me up and even with the lane closure you still had people using lane 1 to get ahead.

[@Chrzaszczbrzmiwtrzcinie]

I'll tell you why these orange flashing variable speed limit signs are extremely dangerous. I used to commute down the M40 to work from Midlands o Oxford everyday. One evening, around midnight when the m40 were as quiet as it gets, a limit of 50 mph poped up due to 'works'. I saw it was generally ignored by most drivers, as the signs cover a 10 mile long sections and in conditions where there is a clear sky and not many cars on the road you can clearly see if there are any works from a distance and get ready to slow down. A Corsa driver panicked when he saw the sign and slowed down rapidly, moving to the leftmost lane. Little did he know, there was a line of lorries doing 70, completely unprepared for his manuver. The outcome? The Corsa was wrecked by an HGV. 2 other HGVs were involved one of which crashed into a central reservation trying to avoid the crash-the driver was badly injured, I believe he lost one of his legs... The Corsa driver luckily ended up with no injuries whatsoever. I pulled him out of the car and was shocked, because every bit of his car around him was unrecognisable. I saw a similar close call some weeks later...

[@piciu256]

20mph limit on a motorway is ridiculous, for any reason really.

[@conorsykes]

Even for a car coming the wrong way down the carriageway?

[@garywhitfield317]

For anything other than an oncoming vehicle travelling against the flow of traffic, I'd be inclined to agree. If someone has, for whatever reason, managed to end up travelling the wrong way down a dual carriageway then the impact velocity is the sum of the velocities of both items involved in the collision. So if they were travelling at 70MPH and you were travelling at 70MPH the impact velocity is 140MPH and everyone dies. If the oncoming vehicle was travelling at 70, then even only doing 20, the impact speed is 90. The signs are the only way to even attempt to control the impact speed, as the vehicle going the wrong way can't see them. Every driver in that clip who was going faster than the posted limit was increasing the risk of an accident, and increasing the damage caused by that accident. It's thankfully a rare occurrence on our roads, and I can understand the frustration of being told to drive that slow on what should be our fastest roads, but to arrive first, first you have to arrive!

[@piciu256]

@@garywhitfield317 ok, mayby for a car going the wrong way I'd agree, but not for 20mph, 40 would be plenty slow enough unless the wrong way car is doing 100, in which case you're in bad luck even stationary. As for the velocities summing-up, that's not how physics work, technically the impact velocity is a sum, but that doesn't matter in practice, for both parties involved it just "feels" like hitting a stationary object.

[@garywhitfield317]

@@piciu256 Sorry, that's EXACTLY how physics work. There is the same impact energy involved in a head-on collision where both vehicles are travelling toward each other at 70MPH as there is with one hitting a brick wall at 140MPH. Physics has no bearing on what that 'feels' like, but I can assure you, you have a better chance of a) avoiding the collision in the first place and b) surviving any collision by driving as slow as is safe to do so. The cammer in this clip, I believe, has the correct attitude. You have no way of telling how fast, or in what lane, the oncoming vehicle is travelling. Slow down, keep alert. He slowed down to a reasonable speed, and kept alert - not just to what may have been coming straight towards him, but to the danger posed by traffic approaching from the rear.

[@piciu256]

@@garywhitfield317 energy involved is "the same", but the crumple zone is double also, so the acceleration (deceleration) is the same, also, energy is velocity squared, so no, the energy is not the same as double the speed, the energy is double.

[@David-sw2fn]

I never drive along the hard shoulder when it’s a running lane. Rightly or wrongly, I think: why take the risk? I’m most likely to find a stranded vehicle there and I don’t want to encounter one suddenly at 60mph (rarely will it be NSL when the hard shoulder is running). From my experience only relatively few people use the hard shoulder as a running lane, probably due to a mix of confusion and concern. This doesn’t seem to help congestion at all.

[@Theactivepsychos]

Why take the risk? Because the more people think like that the more dangerous they become.

[@ProMilkshake]

It would help congestion if everyone didn't have your mindset, plenty of people have exactly the same mindset as you. Its gotten that bad on the M6 that when the "use hardshoulder" is on the gantries I make the joke to myself "my personal lane has opened", as nobody ever seems to use it. All it does is cause just as many problems as "middle lane hoggers". As an example, if the hardshoulder has been marked as "use hardshoulder" on the gantries and i switch to the hardshoulder (now lane 1) as im not over taking anyone, ill likely approach loads of vehicles travelling slower than me in the now lane 2. This gives me the choice of either passing on the left or moving out to lane 3 to pass slower vehicles in lane 2 and then move back to lane 1 (hard shoulder). Doing either of those is just as problematic as the other. You need to change your mindset and use these motorways correctly.

[@piciu256]

@@ProMilkshake exactly, not using the hard shoulder when allowed "because it's not as safe probably" is the same mindset as mod lane hoggers use "it's safer to just stay in this lane than having to change lanes once in a while"

[@AndYourPointWasWhat]

Absolutely right, David. I do the same.

[@Theactivepsychos]

@@AndYourPointWasWhat you should be more confident in your ability to see problems ahead of maybe get some more training. There's no reason you should be frightened to use the left lane.

[@TheD4N1EL]

I completely agree, everyone does just sit in lanes 3 & 4 on a smart motorway. For me i don't mind Smart motorways, but the typre where the old hardsholder has been turned into a lane and they've added the cameras aren't smart motorways. The ones where you still have a normal hard shoulder and during the peak rush hours or during higher traffic spells the hard shoulder becomes a lane, and you're told to use the hard shoulder if you're getting off at the next junction and then the same afterwards for the next junction, they work far better.

[@MrGollysnake]

I pass a junction at least 5 days a week where the motorway changes to 4 lanes, the amount of people you see trying to go straight into lane 2 although they don’t need too.

[@OswestryGrey]

Smart motorways reduce congestion by killing off drivers unfortunate enough to break down whilst traversing them. So fewer cars = less congestion.

[@Catnipqueen]

Really helpful video!

[@amyk9813]

Recently I had my advanced check drive, it was going pretty well... and then we joined the motorway. They asked me why I wasn't using the hard shoulder and I suddenly realised my mistake 😅 I was so focused on what was happening ahead that I forgot the basics of smart motorways! Lesson learned, easy correction and ironically made more progress with the change but I can see how people might be reluctant to do it because it does go against the usual rule of "never use hard shoulder unless in emergency". I hope they update the HC accordingly to make things clear ☺️

[@redmercury77]

The biggest danger is definitely the delay in being notified of a broken down vehicle blocking a running lane. I’ve experienced it four times in last 18 months... ALL OF THEM close shaves. Even having the cheaper option of building a ‘soft shoulder’ for broken down vehicles to move over to would be much safer surely.

[@chrissilver7719]

Good summary and the breakdown scenario is a scary thought especially at night or bad weather when visibility is poorer.

[@brhodes0]

Good vid. With the overhead variable speeds - if it’s a white number in a red circle that’s a legally enforceable limit, ie the cameras will be set to that speed. If it’s the flashing amber ones (I call them space invaders) 👾…they are deemed ‘advisory’ - you can ignore them BUT if you then have an accident where it is determined you were travelling above the advised speed there a risk of being done for driving without due care. I think that’s how it works and was pretty much the only thing I learned from the speed awareness course I did a few years ago.

[@kevindinsdale4103]

I watched a programme about smart motorways. At that time, the AA, RAC etc., refused to attend breakdowns on these motorways as they considered the danger too high a risk. I think that says enough.

[@funnybunny350]

Its amazing that these passed regulations with safety being an afterthought if you break down, but knowing the 1st lane is almost clear and everyone is using lanes 2/3/4 seems to be that everyone has the same idea, leave lane 1 for the people that need it without risking their lives or their families

[@1Three8Fiver]

Smart Motorways - an exercise in cost cutting from building more appropriate/wider roads, using cameras over police to enforce good lane usage/reduce lane hogging, all at the expense of safety and for the promotion of pay-per-mile vehicle tracking.

[@WraithSeer-uv6tv]

Just passed my test the other day Ashley! Your videos have really helped me understand the bigger picture. I'll keep watching so I can keep learning!

[@ashley_neal]

Congratulations 👏

[@WraithSeer-uv6tv]

@@ashley_neal Thank you! I managed to do it first try, I turned up with 2 other people and both of them returned early. 😬 One tip that might be useful to let people know about is reminding the examiner that you don't have an extra mirror, I have heard some examiners can be a bit different if they have to get back out of the car.

[@R04drunner1]

Excellent video Ashley, crammed with useful info. Here in NI we don't have many smart motorways, only around the capital city (Belfast). But when I venture into GB I will bear all your points in mind. Top job buddy 👍

[@rocket7334]

Before leaving Emergency Refuge Area you need to use the SOS phone to let the Regional Control Centre that you are leaving, so the lane can be closed for you to build up speed. You don’t look for big gaps as you mentioned that is dangerous, many people don’t know this that’s why collisions happen and blame the smart mortoway.

[@alansimmons9621]

I feel the guy was wise to pick his speed up a little when the limit went down to 20mph. If Im in this situation I tend to tuck in front of a vehicle, particularly a HGV abiding by the speed limit as I would be concious of a car collecting me from behind. It gets a little scary in thick fog as cars really dont slow down and drive to conditions.

[@jerry2357]

A few years ago I used to travel west from Bradford on the M62 at least once a month in the morning peak. The congestion was always for the traffic travelling eastwards. After they put in the variable speeds limits, gantries etc, I noticed that the traffic travelling eastwards was always travelling smoothly, not stop-start with standing traffic, as previously. So it appeared to me that the smart motorway improved traffic flow.

[@iallso1]

It is pretty obvious that if lane one is usually empty, or close to, and people have developed the habit of driving in lanes two and three, then it is unlikely that their behaviour will change in the short term to use the hard shoulder even when enabling to do so. With most traffic still in the same lanes as previously it is unlikely that there will be a reduction in congestion. I would suggest that by allowing vehicles to pass on the left traffic would then use all available lanes and this would reduce conjunction. I understand that some countries in Europe have motorways with variable speed limits and these limits are backed up by enforcement cameras and they have significantly reduced speeding and helped with congestion.

[@billyporter1389]

It's been allowed to pass in left lane for nearly 50years. Yet for some unknown reason most people just cannot grasp this.

[@petefletcher984]

When I was a professional driver and traffic was very busy, I always called lane one the fast lane, not many drivers seemed to use it!

[@frazermountford]

I remember a scenario once exactly like this but the traffic was much heavier and the vehicles were not slowing down at all, whilst i did slow down it was far to dangerous to be doing the speed limit indicated as people were coming up behind quickly.

[@HIDLampDashcam]

I had one instance on the M25 (I think) where the gantries went 50-50-40-60-national-50-national almost like they were trying to catch people out. My biggest problem though is the breaking down side of things. They've said for over 60 years that if you break down on a motorway, pull onto the hard shoulder and get out of the vehicle, but now it's "If you break down continue driving to a refuge area" so they're trying to say it's safe to drive your defective vehicle for nearly 2 miles in fast flowing traffic, which in my eyes is potentially dangerous but will also significantly increase the amount of damage to the vehicle. Then if you can't make it to a refuge area stay in your vehicle has to be the most backwards advance we've had in UK motoring. Stats have already shown them to have much higher death tolls per mile than standard motorways, yet they continue to be built. In my opinion they are a complete waste of money, dangerous and need a permanent hard shoulder reinstating. The AA won't even attend breakdowns on them, they require highways to move the stricken vehicle off the carriageway first.

[@LiamLloyd1]

I have spend the last 12 years going from Liverpool to Bolton a lot, and at different times of the day, so I have experienced how the traffic was before and after the smart motorway was introduced on the M62. In terms of congestion, I actually have seen a reduction since the smart motorway was introduced, especially at junction 12 eastbound. Previously you would be stuck in traffic there for up to about 30 minutes to get onto the M60 at the busiest times of the day. Nowadays, it's probably closer to 10 minutes as it does do a better job at slowing the traffic down. I don't think it well ever stop traffic jams there, but it has controlled the flow a lot better. On this section of motorway and other smart motorways, I have been in situations where there has been a broken down vehicle in lane 1. I had one particular incident when the smart motorway was in its infancy and the warnings on the gantries seemed a little too late to be displayed. I did witness other motorists approach the stranded car and panic a little bit, causing a potentially dangerous situation for everyone involved. Whether this has got better since then, I'm not sure. I do hope issues like this have been ironed out for the sake of everyone's safety.

[@justin.trading]

Used to take M42 daily before got to work from home at peak times having the hard shoulder opened up got us through very quickly between J5-6. With lanes 1,2 and 3 crawling. What annoyed me was drivers pulling into the hard shoulder, which was marked for use of exit only to jump the queues ahead and hold us up further up the motorway as they tried to get back into lane 1.

[@tommyxx55]

Great video Ashley as always, just a couple op safety points to build upon alongside the ones you listed. For the smart motorways or any motorways in general: Turn the steering wheel all the way to the left. Exit the vehicle and stay back from your vehicle. If there is a barrier available then wait behind it. If not barrier then just as far away from the lanes as reasonable.

[@seeitsayitdoggo]

Looks like it depends on which motorway and where. Birmingham love their stretch and use it a lot, and often the signs say "Hardshoulder for Junction X only" which causes traffic to queue on the Hardshoulder for the exit rather than in what would be lane one.

[@ronniewilson6597]

As you pointed out at the end of your video, most people constantly drive either in lane two or three. For smart motorway’s to be used properly people need to learn how to use motorway’s in general. I’ve had two occasion’s where car’s have been driven down the motorway the wrong direction and been stopped by the Police.

[@ds_e5202]

My nearest motorway had been through smart-motorway-conversion-roadworks for years now, still not finished. had a couple of close calls with helpless broken down cars in live lanes.

[@ibs5080]

I just want to take a moment to make a general comment about Ash's channel. I am noticing more and more that the level of comments / intelligence on this channel is really pretty high...and certainly so MUCH higher than these so called "Dash Cam" channels. This latest video is an excellent example of really good comments. Even when we have a difference of opinion, it is generally very civilised (with a few exceptions!). I don't actually see Ash's channel as a "dash cam" channel anyway but far more than that and very educational & analytical. Oh and congrats on surpassing 90K subscribers Ashley! Hopefully it won't be long before you reach 100k subs. We should seriously do something to mark that occassion. Thoughts anyone? Perhaps we should find a decently long stretch of road that goes from 2 lanes to 1, use both lanes and all perfectly merge in turn to show how it's supposed to be done...and record it as a "Nice Driving" video!

[@ashley_neal]

I'm extremely proud of my comment section, as it's always full of good and extra information.👍🏼

[@ibs5080]

@@ashley_neal And so you should be Ash. You have honestly created quite something here. May it continue to grow.

[@ChilledGamerUK]

My dad got caught on the M25 section around Heathrow but not for breaking the speed limit on the gantry as he would speed up and then slow down (like most do). This was for breaking the average speed between two gantry's, J14 & J13 south bound. This in turn now makes me stick to the limit of the variable speed limits if they've started using not only static speed cameras but also average speed limit between 2 gantry's.

[@andrewjones154]

Ashley, Thanks for a thought provoking video. I've used a Refuge Area on the M42, once, but didn't need to call for assistance to leave because the inside lane was still being used as a Hard Shoulder at that time - a very convenient feature. On another occasion, joining the A38(M) North, from Aston (Birmingham), I found the gantry spanning the carriageway where the slip road joins had a red X applicable to the inside lane of the A38(M). Would you say that forces joining traffic to stop, as you would have to drive in that lane to get to lanes 2, and 3 which were open? I was interested to read another comment suggesting that the highways agency don't have to have an all clear sign after an obstruction now, so do you know what the current rules are?

[@Mr_OoOsH]

Scrapped these! At long last!