UK Smart motorway rollout to be paused

12 January 2022

Government pausing the rollout of new all lane running smart motorway schemes.

• rollout of new all lane running smart motorway schemes will be paused until 5 years of safety data is available
• current stretches of smart motorway to be further upgraded with best-in-class technology and resources
• £900 million commitment to ensure drivers feel safe and confident, including extra £390 million to install additional emergency areas

The rollout of new smart motorway schemes will be paused until a full 5 years’ worth of safety data is available , as the Department for Transport (DfT) invests £900 million to improve safety on existing all lane running (ALR) motorways.

In line with the  Transport Committee’s most recent recommendations, the rollout of new ALR smart motorways will be paused until a full 5 years’ worth of safety data becomes available for schemes introduced before 2020. After this point, the government will assess the data and make an informed decision on next steps.