By Paul Icke who has been repairing buses on the motorway network for 45 years
It never ceases to amaze me the amount of inept incompetence and shear stupidity that we have to put up with from the ruling classes and so called experts.
Spending billions of pounds on failed projects time and time again whilst the oldest of the population have to choose between heating and eating in cold weather and practically every town in the country now has people sleeping in doorways. It is a sad indictment that the people we elect are so far removed from the lives of the people they should represent and protect.
Which brings me on to the subject of one of their latest failings ‘SMART’ Motorways. A design so flawed even an amoeba could see it. But of course the experts know best. What I have been saying since the start has now been confirmed by the latest figures that 38 people have died as a direct result of this ridiculous road design. How could anyone believe that having a four lane high-speed road with no immediate escape route in an emergency would be anything less than a disaster but that is what we have.
Make no mistake if you have a breakdown in your vehicle on one of these roads and are forced to come to a stop in the carriageway you are instantaneously auditioning for a funeral. The removal of the EMERGENCY LANE/HARDSHOULDER by Highways England is nothing short of Corporate Manslaughter. There is a whole host of scenario’s that can happen whilst travelling on the motorway that require the immediate assistance of the emergency lane now removed. Your vehicle catches fire which is getting more common, You have a tyre blowout, you suddenly feel ill, your vehicle just suddenly cuts out, to name a few but in the eyes of Highways England none of this happens as no matter what goes wrong you will always be able to drive to one of their new EMERGENCY REFUGE AREAS spaced at around every mile and a half.
To those of you who are not familiar with these it’s a lay-by that even in itself is flawed as they are too narrow, too short, and far too far apart to be classed as a safety feature. That is before we consider the other main purpose of the emergency lane, that being to facilitate the rapid arrival of FIRE/POLICE and AMBULANCE crews to major incidents who are now subject to often massive delays in arriving. Again putting lives at risk.
This level of brain dead-thinking really is beyond belief but that is what we have running Highways England and indeed much of the rest of this country. I could go on for hours about this but I will finish with a plea to all motorists. Until we can get some common sense brought back and a U turn made on this disastrous design please make yourself familiar with the potential devastation these roads pose to the safety of yourself and your family and familiarise everyone with what they are and how they work. Have a plan to help save yourself should you have a breakdown or emergency situation on the ‘SMART’ motorway. It could just save your life.
