Smart motorways.

[Lizzie48]

I hope this is in the right place. I hope to be in the UK in september, I don't mind driving there at all but what is worrying? me are the smart motorways! I have read about them and I did drive on them last time I was there but now thinking about it, are they safe? What happens when you have a breakdown or blown tire?

[Plantaholic]

Precisely Lizzie, there is a lot of controversy about them as some people have been killed. Not encountered them myself but then I do not drive on motorways now. Take care. Where are you visiting?

[Lizzie48]

First my sister in Hull than going to Wales for a week, near Wrexham.

[Daisy]

Lizzie - I think you're right to be cautious. The only smart motorway I use regularly is the M3, and I try to stay out of the 'smart' lane until I need to turn off at Junction 4. There are 'safe bays' every mile or so, but that's no good if you're half way between and the car just stops.

I think if you do break down you pull over to the smart lane and put your hazard lights on. I think the fact that you've stopped should register on Traffic control cameras in the control room, and the lane is closed (a red X 'closes' a lane). I've realised writing this, I'm not that clued up either.

I have notices going through the congested motorways around Birmingham (I'm usually going from the M40/42 to the M6 Toll Road) the extra lane helps, but as we're all finding out, there have been some horrible accidents.

[Gemini]

Lizzie, I don't know what a smart motorway is and have never heard of them!
I don't drive on motorways myself, and never will, but have been unaware of driving on them with OH. I will ask her.

[Lizzie48]

Thanks, I shall have to Google a route with very short smart motorways!!!! Gem, how can you not hear of them??? Very much in the news at the moment.

[Gemini]

I don't know Lizzie, maybe I live in a world of my own

[Lizzie48]

If you don't have to drive on motorways Gem I don't expect you to be interested in all that is going on with them.

[Oma]

I must admit I had never heard of them either , I have just asked B to explain to me what they are , they don't sound safe to me but I imagine lots of people have drove on them and not noticed , its sort of using the hard shoulder isn't it , very confusing indeed ,
Lizzie I think that's a very good idea , use Mr Google see if you can avoid them , I suspect you wont avoid them all though .x

[Plantaholic]

The idea is to keep the traffic moving on busy motorways but there have been some fatal accidents. They have provided small laybys every mile but what good are they if you break-down just as you have passed one.

[Nanto2girls]

Thanks for the explanation Plant.

[WeeGranny]

Lizzie, I don't think all motorways in UK are smart motorways. I haven't encountered any round my way (M11). I think most of them are in the Midlands and you might have to drive on one going from Hull to Wrexham. I think they're a stupid idea because people don't always take notice of warnings on the overhead gantries and that's how the accidents happen.Are you driving from Europe or picking up a hire car here?

[Daisy]

Lizzie - WeeGranny is right - not all motorways are Smart motorways.

I've just had a look at the map and from Hull to Wrexham there are plenty of choices of route with motorways for most of the distance, and some A roads which are motorway standard. I'd see what your sat nav suggests. I'm sure you remember from when you lived in the UK it's never straightforward travelling east/west, but a lot of roads have improved. We notice when we're in and around North Wales there are lots more good dual carriageways these days than when we lived there!

There aren't many smart motorways but I found this link which might help if you do find yourself on one.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/how-to-drive-on-a-smart-motorway

[Lizzie48]

WeeGranny, I travel with my own car, I will check on everything before I leave, it is not that I panic or anything like that, the roads here are very busy at the best of times so I am used to that. I am sure I was on one from the Dales to Hull 2 years ago, no lay by for a while.

Daisy, thanks I will have look at the link, I know that roads are improving all over the UK, so they tell me anyway. I have just had a phone call from a friend, he lives near Aberdeen, I asked him about the smart motorways, he said " we don't even have dual carriageways up here"!!!

[Daisy]

Lizzie - I had to smile at your Aberdeen friend's comments. We were only saying the other day we've never been there. We'll have a long wait if we're waiting for a motorway!