OK, so just what is a sensible motorway?

We’re hearing a lot at the moment about so-known as ‘smart’ motorways.

So it might be a dumb question, but precisely what does that imply?

There’s a single argument that says, when it comes to roads, motorways are already fairly smart.

Right after all, they’re straight, they’re not punctuated by roundabouts and site visitors lights, and if you’re fortunate, they get you where you want faster than any other route.

And let’s not neglect that they are safer – motorists have fewer accidents on them than on other roads.

But now motorways are acquiring even cleverer.

Pioneering ‘smart’ technologies has been created to reduce congestion and ease site visitors flow, avoiding the want for expensive and frequently controversial road-widening schemes.

Smart moves

A ‘smart’ motorway scheme includes:

– converting the challenging shoulder into an extra lane to minimize targeted traffic jams

– installing far more cameras to enforce speed limits, and

– putting up new warning signs to let drivers know about impending hazards.

The first ‘smart’ scheme opened on an 8-mile section of the M25 in April final year. Additional sections, 1 on the southern element of the M25, and an additional on the northern section, are now also in operation.

Northern lights

But it’s not just the south-east of England which is benefiting from wise technology.

In the north, a 17-mile stretch of the ne2rk among Junction 8 of the M60 close to Sale and Junction 20 of the M62 close to Rochdale is getting upgraded to a intelligent motorway. Operate on the project will be completed by the autumn of 2017.

Related schemes are also being rolled out on the M1 and M3.

The tough shoulder is also being permanently converted into an additional lane on a 5-mile stretch of the M62 in between junctions 18 and 20 to support ease congestion.

Sign of the occasions

Once the modifications are completed, much more than 200 electronic indicators on the M60 and M62 will be in spot to warn drivers of targeted traffic incidents, adjustments in the mandatory speed limit and any lane closures.

There will also be much more CCTV cameras introduced to monitor visitors levels from the Highways Agency’s Regional Handle Centre at Newton-le-Willows in Merseyside.

Finally, there will be emergency ‘refuge’ locations available on the section of M62 which doesn’t have a tough shoulder. Overhead indicators will show a red ‘X’ indicating which lanes are shut in the course of incidents, permitting police, ambulance and fire solutions effortless access.

At-a-glance wise motorway golden rules

The Highways Agency has published a list of sensible motorway guidelines to support drivers adapt to the new motorways.

On a sensible motorway you must:

• in no way drive beneath a red “X”


• preserve to the speed limit shown on the gantries


• a solid white line indicates the tough shoulder – don’t drive in it unless directed.


• a broken white line indicates a standard operating lane


• use the refuge places for emergencies if there’s no tough shoulder


• place your hazard lights on if you break down.

Candid cameras

Most motorists welcome improvements to motorways – soon after all, any measures to support ease congestion are surely a excellent factor.

Even so, the scheme is not proving so popular with drivers who nudge over the 70mph speed limit and who are caught out by the new high-tech cameras which face each forwards and backwards.

In contrast to the usual yellow speed cameras, these cameras are grey, and able to track across 4 lanes rather than just 1.

It has been reported that on one particular section of the M25 in Kent, between junctions 5 and 6, 668 motorists have been caught in just 2 months following the cameras were turned on.

These drivers face at least £100 in fines, as properly as points on their licence.

Of these 668, 520 received tickets where the limit was set at precisely 70mph. This is in spite of the truth most motorists think they are permitted a margin of grace more than any speed limit – police don’t usually stop any person beneath 79mph.

And then there’s the expense of sensible motorways. The bill for these ‘stealth’ cameras alone apparently runs to £2.1m of taxpayers’ cash.

Understand far more

You can uncover out more about the improvement of intelligent motorways on the Highways Agency’s website. You can register on the web site to be kept informed about the news on the scheme.

OK, so just what is a sensible motorway?