Report by the ORR supports National Highway’s findings that smart motorways are the safest roads in the country.
A report issued by the Office of Rail and Road to independently review the data to provide further analytical assurance and ensure that the conclusions of National Highways around Smart Motorways has concluded that the findings that smart motorways are the safest roads in the UK has confirmed that the government owned company’s own findings are robust.
The report, Quality Assurance of All Lane Running motorway data, was a thorough undertaking; with the ORR drawing on its expertise as the monitor of England’s strategic road network.
The ORR analysed detailed information, interviewed relevant staff at both National Highways and the Department for Transport, and reviewed the evidence submitted to the Transport Select Committee inquiry, which commenced in February 2021.
To provide additional expertise and challenge, ORR took independent analytical advice from a specialist consultancy and involved the non-executive chair of its National Highways Committee. This was done to ensure the conclusions and recommendations arrived are as robust and comprehensive as possible. The report supports National Highway’s findings that smart motorways are the safest roads in the country in terms of fatalities.
The ORR’s report contains several recommendations for improvement that will strengthen understanding of road safety. National Highways has agreed to all its recommendations and developed an action plan in response which is already underway building upon its progress report issued in April 2021.
The National Highways Progress Report drew its evidence from data and analysis of the 2019 STATS19 official statistics and produced by National Highways. I know that there has been considerable public and media interest in understanding motorway accident and fatality data and in March 2021 I commissioned the Office of Rail and Road to independently review the data to provide further analytical assurance and ensure that the conclusions arrived at are robust.
The ORR’s report contains several recommendations for improvement that will strengthen our understanding of road safety. National Highways has agreed to all its recommendations and developed an action plan in response which is already underway.
Speaking about the publishing of the report, Grant Shapps, Minister for Transport addressed parliament saying: “My commission for assurance into smart motorway safety data by the ORR is another step towards improving road safety and instilling public confidence in the safety of our roads, which make a crucial contribution to economic and social development in this country.”
Earlier this month, SHP reported that it’s been claimed a computer systems controlling signs on smart motorways crashed three times in four days, meaning signs across hundreds of miles of motorway could not be changed.
To view a copy of the report click here.
This article was originally published by Safer Highways.
This eBook will guide you through some of the key understandings you need to be able to manage driver safety effectively and, at the end, provide a series of free resources you can access to help you ensure your own driver safety management system is robust, legally compliant and in line with industry-accepted good practice.
Download this eBook from Driving for Better Business and SHP to cover:
- Why do we need to manage driver safety?
- Duty of care – a shared responsibility;
- Setting the rules with a driving for work policy;
- Managing driver safety;
- Ensuring safe vehicles;
- Safe journeys and fitness to drive;
- Record keeping;
- Reporting;
- The business benefits of good practice;
- Additional resources
A report issued by the Office of Rail and Road to independently review the data to provide further analytical assurance and ensure that the conclusions of National Highways around Smart Motorways has concluded that the findings that smart motorways are the safest roads in the UK has confirmed that the government owned company’s own findings are robust.