Government rules out new smart motorways as focus shifts to safety of existing network

No new smart motorways will be built in England, with the Government confirming that investment will instead focus on improving safety across the existing network and assessing the effectiveness of measures already introduced.

The Department for Transport has reaffirmed its position on smart motorways as part of the Government’s wider approach to improving road safety and reducing deaths and serious injuries.

Under Prime Minister Andy Burnham, the Government will maintain the commitment not to develop further smart motorway schemes, while National Highways continues work to improve the safety of those already operating.

The policy forms part of a broader road safety programme covering areas including vehicle technology, seatbelt use, driver eyesight and potential changes to the way new motorists learn to drive.

For smart motorways, however, the direction is clear: the existing network will remain, but there will be no further expansion.

Existing smart motorways remain under review

The Government acknowledges that National Highways' analysis indicates smart motorways are, overall, safer than conventional motorways when measured by deaths and serious injuries.

However, ministers have also recognised continuing public concern surrounding the removal of permanent hard shoulders on all-lane-running sections.

The Government said:

“Whilst the latest analysis published by National Highways continues to show that, overall, smart motorways are safer than conventional motorways in terms of deaths and serious injuries, government recognises public concerns and will not be building any new smart motorways.”

Attention will instead remain on making existing sections as safe as possible.

During the second Road Investment Strategy period, covering April 2020 to March 2025, National Highways implemented a series of additional safety measures.

These included the rollout of stopped vehicle detection technology, designed to identify vehicles stranded in live lanes more quickly.

More than 150 additional emergency stopping places were also provided across all-lane-running motorway sections, increasing the number of locations where motorists can leave a live carriageway following a breakdown or emergency.

Five-year assessment due in 2028

National Highways is now evaluating the impact of those measures.

Five years of safety and economic information is being collected, with the assessment expected to be completed in 2028.

Until then, the safety performance of existing smart motorways will continue to be monitored.

The third road period, running from April 2026 until March 2031, will see National Highways continue investing in safety improvements across the wider Strategic Road Network, including existing smart motorway sections.

The approach effectively moves the smart motorway programme from network expansion towards management, monitoring and improvement of existing assets.

Value for money also under scrutiny

Safety is not the only issue surrounding the programme.

Evaluations of completed schemes have also raised questions over whether the investment delivered the anticipated economic benefits.

National Highways assessments have reportedly classified the majority of evaluated smart motorway projects as providing poor or very poor value for money.

That has added another dimension to the debate over a programme originally intended to increase motorway capacity without the considerably greater cost and land requirements associated with conventional motorway widening.

The AA has been particularly critical, describing the findings as evidence of a “catastrophic waste of time, money and effort”.

A different direction for the motorway network

The decision also reflects a wider change in priorities for England's strategic roads.

Rather than concentrating investment on adding capacity through programmes such as smart motorways, increasing emphasis is being placed on renewing existing infrastructure, improving safety and maintaining the performance and resilience of the network.

That approach will continue throughout the current road investment period.

For National Highways, the immediate challenge is therefore less about creating another generation of smart motorways and more about demonstrating that the extensive network already in operation can be managed safely and effectively.

The findings expected in 2028 will provide an important assessment of whether stopped vehicle detection, additional emergency areas and other interventions have delivered the improvements anticipated.

Until then, England's smart motorway footprint is effectively fixed: no new schemes are planned, while investment and scrutiny will concentrate on making the existing network safer.