“You have additional gantries and additional signs that can inform people when the hard shoulder is open and coed for running.”
He added: “On a very basic level it’s a solid white line in the road, there is a psychological advantage. Drivers can eliminate where they should or shouldn’t be driving.”
As part of his evidence stocktake into smart motorways, Mr Shapps confirmed his intention to abolish “confusing” smart motorways where the hard shoulder only operated “part-time”.
However, data from the report highlighted how the dynamic smart motorways were safer than the alternative all-lane runnings schemes which are still in operation.
