UK ministers urged to release ‘withheld’ safety reports on smart motorways
AI Summary
Road safety campaigners and motoring organizations are pressuring the UK government to release withheld safety reports on smart motorways, some dating back to 2022. These "popes" (post-opening project evaluations) from National Highways assess the safety and economic impact of converting hard shoulders into live traffic lanes. Concerns exist that the reports, which the Department for Transport (DfT) claims will be released imminently, may reveal negative findings about smart motorways. Critics like Claire Mercer, whose husband died on a smart motorway, suspect the delay indicates unfavorable results. While the DfT asserts the delay is for thorough review and maintains smart motorways are statistically safe, National Highways' communications suggest anxiety about managing the presentation of the report findings.
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This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).
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