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Scrap dangerous 'smart motorways' petition

(49 Posts)
Chestnut Thu 06-Feb-20 15:19:01

I don't know if anyone saw the BBC Panorama programme on 'Britain's Killer Motorways' but the thought of my family travelling on them is absolutely terrifying me. ?

No hard shoulder, so if you break down you are stuck in a 'live' lane with the risk of being flattened by a juggernaut travelling at 60mph whose driver isn't paying attention.

There is a move to get them scrapped and you can sign the petition here:
Scrap Smart Motorways

DanniRae Thu 06-Feb-20 15:32:16

Signed

M0nica Thu 06-Feb-20 15:37:36

Signed.

We regularly travel on them, especially on the M42 through the Midlands and we try to stay out of them.

We were criticising them last time we drove down this set. We saw at least three cars broken in the the 'smart' lane. Even if the lights are on telling vehicles the lane is shut, this means that other traffic had to weave between smart lane and inside lane, smart lane and inside lane, and when the vehicle doing the weaving is a s*dding enormous Dutch lorry with a left-hand side driver.........

Yehbutnobut Thu 06-Feb-20 15:39:24

Signed

jo1book Thu 06-Feb-20 15:42:24

Signed

Recently felt terrified driving on M6. It has made me think of rail travel as an alternative.

Gaunt47 Thu 06-Feb-20 15:42:36

Signed. Thanks Chestnut

Chestnut Thu 06-Feb-20 15:45:42

I would be out of the car and onto the verge asap but in some places there is a barrier and no escape. I would be absolutely terrified ?

KatyK Thu 06-Feb-20 15:55:24

I'll sign this. My granddaughter had a very frightening incident on one of these recently.

Charleygirl5 Thu 06-Feb-20 15:58:13

Signed-I saw that programme and thank God my motorway driving days are over. It was frightening to watch.

Squiffy Thu 06-Feb-20 16:04:06

Signed. Thanks for the link Chestnut ??

Delila Thu 06-Feb-20 16:27:51

Signed.

seacliff Thu 06-Feb-20 16:44:02

Signed, and shared on FB.

toscalily Thu 06-Feb-20 16:50:36

I never understood how this was considered a good idea, the arguments being that it had been tested in other countries and was considered safe. As a regular driver on the M6, M42 and beyond I can only hope it will force the government to re-think the safety issues on motorways already converted and those still under construction or in the planning stages. I saw the programme, frightening, and have signed.

M0nica Thu 06-Feb-20 17:21:44

I think the original plans for them were much more stringent. Lay byes more frequent, and better monitoring and so on.

Inevitably Government watered them down to reduce costs.

NannyJan53 Thu 06-Feb-20 17:30:13

Signed. I always thought these were a bad idea from the beginning.

Chestnut Thu 06-Feb-20 17:30:59

The signatures on the petition are going up very fast! Reached 195,000 now and rising all the time. I've shared the link with all my friends and asked them to share too. Everyone seems keen. No-one is happy with them.

pinkquartz Thu 06-Feb-20 17:34:30

signed

Susan56 Thu 06-Feb-20 18:13:06

Signed

Chestnut Thu 06-Feb-20 20:33:36

The petition has just crossed the 200,000 mark which is 5,000 signatures in the last three hours. Keep 'em coming!

ExperiencedNotOld Thu 06-Feb-20 20:41:27

Signed. Next Thursday I have to travel to a meeting neat Watford on the M25 up from Heathrow direction. Already I’m rehearsing my fear and dread whilst in the wide bits with concrete barriers side and middle and absolutely nowhere to go otherwise.

Chestnut Thu 06-Feb-20 20:51:53

Just check the car is fully functional before leaving ENO. That's all anyone can do. Is it possible to use another route? Due to M25 congestion we travelled from the M3 up to Milton Keynes on the M1 avoiding the M25 altogether. We told the sat nav to take us there without using motorways, and curiously it didn't take that long! It wasn't a bad journey either, and we saw some interesting places on the way.

Chewbacca Thu 06-Feb-20 21:02:20

Signed

Witzend Thu 06-Feb-20 21:07:15

Did it yesterday. This ‘no hard shoulder’ business horrifies me - it’s so dangerous!
The other day my dd’s car broke down - with a 3 and a 4 year old, and a one month old baby in the back.

Luckily she was still in a residential area - but would soon have been on a busy M25. What could have happened if she’d broken down with no hard shoulder I can’t bear to think.

ExperiencedNotOld Thu 06-Feb-20 21:29:42

Not for a 0930 meeting, just not the time to spare. Pool car too, fingers crossed. But thank you.

Jalyn Thu 06-Feb-20 21:43:37

Signed