Smart motorways.

[Lizzie48]

I see that Panorama investigates the smart motorways this evening, if it goes through that is, China could be more important.

[Daisy]

Lizzie - thanks for that. If it is aired I think I'll record it.

[Plantaholic]

Must check, I should like to see that.

[Gemini]

I just heard on the radio that they are looking into these motorways as so many people have died on them

[Daisy]

I've just watched the Panorama programme, and there have been some heartbreaking accidents, and some heart-stopping near misses.

It seems that the only motorway with the technology that spots a breakdown and closes the lane is part of the M25. The other stretches of smart motorways depend on people in the control rooms spotting that there's a stationary (broken down) vehicle in a live lane.

It's also incredibly dangerous for the rescue services, and very difficult for emergency vehicles to get to breakdowns or accidents because they have to weave in and out of traffic, rather than driving down the hard shoulder.

There was one clip of a driver broken down and phoning 999, and while he was on the phone his car (with children in the back) was hit at speed. You heard him talking, saying "S**t" and then an enormous bang and silence. Fortunately and miraculously they all survived.

Scary.

[Plantaholic]

I watched that programme Daisy, very frightening. How could anyone in their right mind think it would work.

[Gemini]

It sounds horrendous. I will watch it on Catch Up.

[Lizzie48]

I have just watched Panorama, something needs to be done and fast! Very dangerous by the look of things.

[Gemini]

OH and I have just watched the Panorama programme.
Very disturbing, scary and upsetting.

Whoever thought these were a good idea, even with the rescue areas where they were originally planned???
Lizzie, don't go on one if there is an alternative.

I hate motorways anyway, now I hate them even more

[Daisy]

I actually like travelling on motorways, especially for a long journey - but the prospect of not having a hard shoulder is really frightening. I broke down on the M27 a few years ago and the hard shoulder was coned off for roadworks a mile or so ahead. I managed to get on to the hard shoulder and moved a few cones and phoned the AA. They came out very quickly, but there was a crash barrier on the non-road side of the hard shoulder and a steep ditch beyond that, so I couldn't actually get off the hard shoulder while I was waiting and that was bad enough.

I was very glad I didn't have grandchildren or the dog with me!

[Lizzie48]

I don't mind driving on motorways, but no hard shoulder seems unsafe to me. I had to stop not long ago on one of our motorways to check my bike carrier, the traffic just zoomed past me, I didn't stop for long.

[Daisy]

Lizzie - even 50 mph seems fast when you're standing at the roadside, and the noise is deafening.

[Lizzie48]

So true Daisy, especially those huge trucks!!!!

[Oma]

I read they are going to suspend the smart motorways for a period of time to re-evaluate the safety aspects . They should never return so dangerous

[Lizzie48]

That will be a good thing Oma, what a stupid idea in the first place!