What is a smart motorway?
Smart motorways use technology to help control traffic flows, and therefore improve driver journeys. Features of smart motorways include:
Controlled motorways
Variable speed limits are displayed in a red ring overhead and are used when traffic volumes are high. These use monitoring sensors to activate lower speed limits and therefore ease congestion.
The red ‘x’
A red ‘x’ symbol on a gantry sign over the motorway indicates that a lane is closed due to an incident, or where people are working on the road.
You can find out more about non-emergency motorway problems here.
Hard shoulder running
On some motorways, the hard shoulder is opened as an extra lane at busy times and the speed limit is reduced.
Remember: Only use the hard shoulder when overhead signs show you that you can do so, or in an emergency.
Never driven on a motorway before? Take a look at our first time guide.
Find out more about the benefits of smart motorways in this video by Highways England:
Highways England’s ‘summer speed campaign’ aims to raise awareness of the new features of smart motorways. The campaign delivers these five messages:
- ‘Better watch your speed’ – you must stick to speed limits displayed in a red ring. When no speed limit is shown, the national speed limit of 70mph is in place.
- ‘On time journeys’ – speed limits vary at busy times to keep the traffic flowing and make journey times more reliable.
- ‘Be safe’ – millions use motorways every day so think about how the decisions you make affect others.
- ‘Don’t risk it’ – speed limits on smart motorways are enforced by police and if you break the speed limit you will be caught.
- ‘Respect our road workers’ – drive carefully and stay within the speed limit to help keep road workers safe.
Source:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/smart-motorways-summer-speed-campaign