Written question asked by Sarah Champion (Labour) on Tuesday, 14 April 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 16 April 2026. It was answered by Simon Lightwood (Labour) on Wednesday, 22 April 2026 on behalf of the Department for Transport.

Motorways: Safety

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Third Report of the Transport Committee of Session 2021–22, Rollout and safety of smart motorways, HC26, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that emergency refuges on All Lane Running Smart Motorways are spaced no more than 1,500m apart, and no more than 1,000m apart where possible.

Answer: National Highways has completed construction of 151 additional emergency areas across the all lane running (ALR) smart motorway network through the National Emergency Area Retrofit (NEAR) programme. National Highways is evaluating the effectiveness of these additional emergency areas, including impacts on live-lane stops, safety outcomes and road-user perceptions. Initial findings are expected in 2026, with a full three-year evaluation concluding in 2028.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 127108
Session: 2024-26
Related items: Roll-out and safety of smart motorways.
Tuesday, 13 July 2021
Parliamentary committees
House of Commons
Subjects: Safety Motorways
Link: View this Written question on www.parliament.uk