Smart motorways are at the centre of sweeping changes to the Highway Code announced by the Government.
The proposals include new and additional guidance for motorways and high-speed roads, and are designed to reflect the introduction of controversial smart motorways. A public consultation is open until 29 March 2021.
Roads minister Baroness Vere said: “As roads change, it is important that drivers understand these changes and know what to do when driving on them, so that everyone remains safe.
“The Highway Code plays an important role in this understanding: setting out rules, techniques and advice for all road users.”
Changes to the Highway Code
There are 39 signifiant changes to the guidance, including:
- The availability, appearance, and safe use of emergency areas
- The use of variable speed limits to manage congestion
- The use of the red ‘X’ sign to close lanes and provide a safer area for the people and vehicles involved in incidents and roadworks
- The use of hard shoulders that become extra lanes during periods of congestion
- How road users can help keep themselves safe in the event of a breakdown
- How safety cameras are employed to promote compliance with speed limits and lane closures
Many of the proposed changes are focused on guidance for driving on smart motorways. These include how to use the hard shoulder and emergency refuge areas, plus what to do in the event of a breakdown.
The wording of rules 275 and 277 (breakdowns) will look very different if the new Highway Code is approved. These rules are especially important when a driver is forced to stop in a live running lane.
There’s new advice for drivers before they set off on a journey. The current Highway Code tells drivers to ‘switch off your mobile phone’, but this will be changed to ‘for emergency use, you take a charged mobile telephone containing emergency telephone numbers’.
Staying safe if you break down
Baroness Vere added: “The Highway Code is being updated to provide more guidance on driving on motorways and A-roads. It will include information such as emergency area signage, the use of variable speed limits to manage congestion, and how road users can help keep themselves and other road users safe in the event of a breakdown.”
MPs have launched an inquiry into the benefits and dangers of smart motorways after a rise in annual deaths. The transport committee claims public confidence is faltering.
RAC head of roads policy, Nicholas Lyes, said: “There is an increasing level of concern around the safety of smart motorways from the driving public through to Westminster.
“While a major review has identified a number of key actions to improve safety and some progress has been made, there is still a great deal of work to do, which will take several years to complete.
“Whatever happens, it will remain the case that the safety of any driver who comes to a stop in a live smart motorway lane depends both on the lane being closed quickly by Highways England and other drivers then abiding by red ‘X’ closed lane signs.”
Click here to read and respond to the proposed changes to the Highway Code.
READ MORE:
Smart motorway safety inquiry launched by MPs
How to drive safely on a smart motorway
What is the red ‘X’ on smart motorways – and how much is the fine for ignoring it?
