Smart motorways will be switched off from today as part of major update

Smart motorways across England will temporarily deactivate today due to a vital technology upgrade. The car-detection systems and variable speed limit signs[1] will be out of service, and drivers have been alerted. National Highways has announced that the smart motorway network[2] will experience disruptions from 10pm tonight until 3am the following morning.

From December 2 to December 4, daytime maintenance work is scheduled on various motorways. Starting Monday, the M23 from J10 to J8 and the M25 from J12 to J14 will see works between 10am to 2pm and 3pm. On Tuesday, the M25 will also undergo updates from J14 to J13.

Additionally, motorways in the East region will be affected from 9am to noon. A spokesperson for National Highways[3] stated: "As a result of essential technology maintenance, Smart Motorway stopped vehicle detection and/or the ability to reset electronic signs and signals will not be in operation along some sections of the above motorways for periods during these times," reports Birmingham Live[4]. They added: "There are no road closures planned for this work."

The spokesperson for National Highways added: "Where required, we have well-rehearsed plans and mitigations including extra Traffic Officer patrols, increased CCTV monitoring and reduced speed limits in locations that require these measures to be put in place." The smart motorway network spans approximately 300 miles across the UK, with three distinct types of smart motorways in operation. Stationary vehicles on these motorways are detected through a combination of CCTV cameras and technology, using a system known as MIDAS, which identifies slowing traffic due to incidents.

Additionally, a more advanced radar technology called 'stationary vehicle detection' (SVD) is employed on certain sections of 'all lane running' smart motorways, automatically detecting stranded vehicles.

This technology can spot stationary vehicles up to 16 minutes faster than camera-based systems.

However, a Highways England report disclosed that only 18% of all-lane running motorways are equipped with SVD, prompting the RAC to call for its deployment across the entire smart motorway network.

References

1. ^ car-detection systems and variable speed limit signs (www.nottinghampost.com)
2. ^ the smart motorway network (www.nottinghampost.com)
3. ^ spokesperson for National Highways (www.nottinghampost.com)
4. ^ Birmingham Live (www.birminghammail.co.uk)