Eight-year-old Dev Naran (right) was killed on a smart motorway when he was on his way home from visiting his critically ill brother.
Claire Mercer, the widow of … The number of people killed on Smart Motorways has reached 38 in just five years, a BBC Panorama investigation has uncovered. "It's just the most awful situation when you've broken down and your kids are in the back of the car, and there's nothing you can do to protect your kids. These are external links and will open in a new windowThirty-eight people have been killed on smart motorways in the last five years, the government has told BBC Panorama.It is the first time that the total number of deaths has been reported.Smart motorways have been criticised because they do not have a hard shoulder and drivers who break down can be trapped in the speeding traffic.The network is facing an overhaul with the results of a government review due to be announced shortly.A Freedom of Information (FoI) request sent by Panorama to Highways England revealed that on one section of the M25, outside London, the number of near misses had risen 20-fold since the hard shoulder was removed in April 2014.In the five years before the road was converted into a smart motorway there were just 72 near misses. Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps told BBC Panorama that smart motorways have to be as safe or safer than normal motorways. Drivers have been killed on so-called smart motorways because of delays in installing technology to spot broken-down vehicles, the boss of Highways … "An all-party group of MPs, led by Sir Mike, will publish a report on Monday that accuses Highways England of "a shocking degree of carelessness".The MPs say there should be no further roll-out of smart motorways until further research is conducted into their safety.Highways England said the plans to expand smart motorways were approved by ministers and that it was working to gather the facts about safety.A spokesperson said: "Any death on our roads is one too many, and our deepest sympathies remain with the family and friends of those who lost their lives.
A lorry driver has been charged after two men were killed in a three-vehicle crash on a controversial section of 'smart' motorway.Prezemyslaw Zbigniew Szuba, 40, has been charged with two counts of causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving relating to the horror crash last June.Jason Mercer, 44, was killed when he pulled over to exchange contact details with fellow motorist Alexandru Murgeanu, 22, after they had a minor accident on the M1.Jason Mercer, left, and Alexandru Murgeanu, right, were killed following a minor collision on a section of smart motorway on the M1 in South Yorkshire in June 2019. On one section of … It wasn't right, my two sons, one really sick, and the healthy one left me. Thirty-eight people have been killed on smart motorways in the last five years, the government has told BBC Panorama. "Eight-year-old Dev Naran was killed on a smart motorway when he was on his way home from visiting his critically ill brother in Birmingham Children's Hospital.His grandfather stopped the car on the inside lane of the M6 and the vehicle was hit by a lorry 45 seconds later.Mum Meera Naran told the programme that after the accident Dev's body was then taken back to the hospital where his brother was being treated. More than 500 people who visited Toronto strip club are urged to quarantine for 14 days after worker tests positive for COVID-19Why did Meghan Markle's ex send these loving posts if he resented her success? Trevor Engelson's uncle hits back at claims the Duchess of Sussex's first husband couldn't cope with her fameEDEN CONFIDENTIAL: Cressida Bonas's pop at Harry's $14million palace?