I wish I could say I was surprised...

[Grahamm]

Large parts of the smart motorway network in England were hit by a two-hour software failure on Wednesday.

The problem, which froze signs and signals and deactivated the stopped vehicle detection system (SVD), lasted from about 08:30 to 10:30 GMT.

National Highways said it was "urgently investigating" the problem.

Outage prompts investigation amid calls to axe smart motorways

Why on earth a Safety Critical system like this doesn't have some form of back up mode or, at least, a "fail safe" setup that would post caution warnings on all the signs if the computer systems failed, I don't know.

(Well, actually I do, it's because that would cost more than the expense of cleaning up if there were any accidents if the system failed...)

[Tmation]

I read somewhere, that person who invented the smart motorway system has said the problem with them is the government has cut out too much out of the system to save money.


Biker groups want the banned because they are not monitored by computer (with back up systems) but by a human, who can take up to 45 minutes to notice a broken down vehicle, or other issues, and then update the warning signs (or switch them off when the issue has cleared).


Another great waste of tax payers money 

[fazersharp]

I have a fix for them ----- I don't use them. But in the old lane 1, I am still looking out for drivers suddenly avoiding a breakdown ahead.

[Gaz66]

It's destined to fail from the start, only a complete pillock would come up with a system that removes a hard shoulder & relies on electronic signs & cameras & think it's a safe idea, amazes me it ever got signed off, WTF is the world coming to.
 

[mtread]

(Perhaps stating the obvious) it was done purely to add an extra lane in order to help prevent traffic delays. Which of course it hasn't. The amount of traffic will always increase to fill up the available space.. But somebody obviously thought it was worth it, for a few more avoidable accidents.

[fazersharp]

They are now being scrapped because they are not safe.
[/size]This how they are spinning it.
[/color]
[/size]The Department for Transport said the new schemes would have cost more than £1bn, and cancelling them would allow time to track public trust in smart motorways over a longer period.[/color]

[Grahamm]

They are now being scrapped because they are not safe.

New ones are, but they're not (yet) scrapping the existing ones.

They're adding more "safety areas", so you don't have to travel up to a mile and  half to get to one, but that still doesn't mean they're going to be much safer.

[fazersharp]

The actual spin is that they are being paused until 5 years of data has been gathered . Others that are almost compleate will be still be finished.
No matter as I will not be riding or driving in any of them along with many other free thinking folk who do not belive the (any government) crap, who told us they were a safe and effective ways of expanding capacity.