WHAT ARE 'SMART MOTORWAYS' AND WHERE ARE THEY?
Smart motorways' are supposed to ease congestion by allowing cars to drive on the hard shoulder at least some of the time, with traffic being monitored via cameras and 'active' speed signs.
There are currently more than 20 sections of 'smart motorway' on seven different motorways, including on sections of the M1, the M25, the M6, the M42 and the M4.
Six more are under construction and another 18 are being planned.
However Highways England said a 'comprehensive' review of 'smart motorways' would be carried out after admitting lower limits were not always correctly set.
There are currently more than 20 sections of 'smart motorway' on seven different motorways, including on sections of the M25 and the M6
Jim O'Sullivan, chief executive, said that 40, 50 or 60mph limits were being set before congestion mounted on 'smart motorways' in England, using predictions about traffic levels.
Data has showed that 72,348 people were fined on motorways with variable speed limits last year. This was almost double the number a year earlier and a tenfold rise in five years.
Of those, two thirds of fines were handed out to motorists travelling at 69mph or below, even though the national speed limit is 70mph.
Highways England's advice on driving on smart motorways includes a list of recommendations:
- Never drive under a red 'X' sign
- Keep to the speed limit shown on the gantries
- A solid white line indicates the hard shoulder – don’t drive in it unless directed by signs
- Broken white lines show a normal running lane
- Use the refuge areas for emergencies if there’s no hard shoulder
- Put hazard lights on if you break down
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