"Smart" Motorway Speed Question

[Andrew_C]

I read somewhere...

 

Smart motorways are safer, overall. There are fewer accidents - overall. Fewer KSI - overall. The risk to a moving car is reduced - overall. Traffic speed can be managed to keep traffic flowing during heavy periods.*

 

However, the lack of a hard shoulder increases risk for the broken down driver (and the driver on the phone about to hit the broken down car).

 

It really is like the classic "trolley car" problem. Do we keep the majority safer, but increase the risk for the minority?

 

 

* Nope - not my direct experience either. Once the traffic builds up, the hard shoulder gets shut as a running lane.

[nicholab]

I read somewhere...

 

Smart motorways are safer, overall. There are fewer accidents - overall. Fewer KSI - overall. The risk to a moving car is reduced - overall. Traffic speed can be managed to keep traffic flowing during heavy periods.*

 

However, the lack of a hard shoulder increases risk for the broken down driver (and the driver on the phone about to hit the broken down car).

 

It really is like the classic "trolley car" problem. Do we keep the majority safer, but increase the risk for the minority?

 

 

* Nope - not my direct experience either. Once the traffic builds up, the hard shoulder gets shut as a running lane.

 

This why if you ever break down you should turn the wheels sharply and ideally have warning triangle. Also get behind the barrier of concrete object.

[Andrew_C]

Open your boot / bonnet. Make your car look "different" to a car you might just follow and drive into.

[MartinT]

...and put your warning triangle out.

[nicholab]

This why if you ever break down you should turn the wheels sharply and ideally have warning triangle. Also get behind the barrier of concrete object.

 

This is so the side of the car is visible behind the vehicle causing driver to see an issue. This is standard practice for any emergency vehicles on the hard shoulder.