Radar will spot stopped vehicles on ‘smart’ motorways

Radar technology will be installed on stretches of ‘smart’ motorways to spot stopped or broken-down vehicles by the end of September next year, the government has announced.

Cameras to detect dangerous driving – such as ignoring red stop signs or illegally driving down closed lanes – will also be installed 10 months earlier than planned, a government announcement said, as it aims to boost safety on motorways without hard shoulders.

Every new All Lane Running (ALR) motorway – a type of smart motorway – will open with the technology in place, the government said. Roughly 1,000 new approach signs alerting drivers of their nearest place to stop in an emergency will also be installed.

Transport secretary Grant Shapps said: “All new ALR motorways will open with stopped vehicle detection technology in place, as well as a programme to speed up the roll-out of the technology on previously built stretches of ALR motorways to next year. This will help us further reduce the risk of accidents on the country’s roads.

“So-called smart motorways started to be built in 2001 and I am determined to ensure that technology and exacting standards are in place.”

Work to update the Highway Code to provide more guidance about driving on ALR motorways will also be brought forward and is due to be published this year.

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