Sarah Champion MP Condemns Government Failure to Protect Motorists on Smart Motorways

Sarah Champion MP, Member of Parliament for Rotherham, has criticised the government’s failure to commit to immediate safety improvements for Britain’s existing All Lanes Running (ALR) motorways. 

Sarah’s comments follow an announcement by the Secretary of State for Transport, Grant Shapps, that the government will implement design changes to existing ALR schemes to improve motorist safety. 

Sarah has campaigned extensively to deliver safety improvements on Britain’s smart motorways, alongside Claire Mercer whose husband Jason was killed on the South Yorkshire M1. 

Sarah welcomed the improvements, but criticised the continued operation of existing ALR schemes with recognised lower safety standards inherent to them. 

Commenting on the decision, Sarah said: 

“While I am hugely relieved that the Secretary of State has listened to the serious concerns raised by people directly impacted by smart motorways, these proposals do not go far enough to address the fundamental safety issues.’ 

‘By recognising the need to improve the safety measures of current schemes, the government has tacitly acknowledged the fundamental flaws in existing ALR motorways. The first duty of Government is to protect its citizens – yet the Secretary of State is allowing these lethal roads to continue to operate.’ 

‘The government must restore existing ALR motorways to traditional operation with immediate effect. They should not operate again until life saving safety measures can be retrofitted.’ 

‘The government are gambling with the lives of motorists. I will continue to fight until ALR operates safely – or not at all.”