MPs oppose motorway hard shoulder plans

The Transport Select Committee (TSC) has called on the government to scrap its plans to convert more hard shoulders into permanent driving lanes.

The proposals are intended to ease motorway congestions by converting hard shoulders in England into permanent lanes, known as ‘all-lane running’.

However, in its report the TSC has argued that the change would be dangerous.

In an interview with BBC Radio 5 live, Louise Ellman MP, chairwoman of the TSC, explained: "Our concern is about the very dramatic change which is being proposed in schemes called ‘all-lane running’, where there will never be a hard shoulder, where there are far fewer emergency refuges, and where there is less information on the motorway to tell motorists just what is happening."

Similarly the AA warned that breaking down on a motorway was every drivers worst fear and that the government must ensure it does not compromise safety just to reduce costs.

A Department for Transport spokesman said: "All-lane running roads are designed to be as safe as ordinary motorways. As the committee recognise, the busiest journey times have almost halved, and overall journey times are more reliable and predictable than before.

"We will be considering all the Transport Select Committee's findings carefully and responding shortly."