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'We're pulling our hair out': Why even the traffic officers who patrol smart motorways think they are 'unsafe'
03.02.2022 - 09:54 / manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Traffic officers who patrol the M62 smart motorway have admitted even they think the system is "unsafe".
Insiders have warned of staffing problems, drivers getting ‘stranded’ after breaking down, faulty signals and lane closures signs being ignored.
Following a government decision to ‘pause’ the construction of new smart motorways which include the use of the hard shoulder as a working lane, the Manchester Evening News has spoken to traffic officers who patrol the region’s roads.
The latest concerns raised by staff come after the admission last year of a series of technical faults and oversights, many of which have now been addressed.
READ MORE: Not such a smart motorway after all? The 'unsafe' glitches and faults plaguing Greater Manchester's M62
Although National Highways (formerly Highways England) admit that some signals are still broken, they deny there are staffing problems, insisting that, despite the impact of Omicron, they have ‘well-rehearsed protocols to ensure adequate staffing levels…help keep motorists safe.”
However, traffic officers maintain that insufficient monitoring of CCTV means drivers are having to wait in lives lanes to be spotted by either them or fellow drivers.
One insider told the Manchester Evening News: “I’ve seen smart motorways unroll and I’ve seen smart motorways unravel.
"They are not a good idea, full stop. They are not safe.
“We are pulling our hair out, the control room just aren’t picking up breakdowns on the CCTV.
“We are forever on different radio channels to different regions because they are covering and they don’t have the local knowledge.
"Sometimes the control room in the South-West is dealing with our calls.”
The traffic officer says this lack of 'local knowledge' means
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