The new section of smart motorway will open between junctions 25 and 27 on the Hertfordshire/Essex border. On the new M25 sections the hard shoulder will be used as a permanent traffic lane. This is referred to as ‘all lane running’
How to use All Lane Running
There is no hard shoulder on these sections of motorway; there is a broken white line between each lane, indicating that all lanes have the same status. Refuge areas are available for emergency use. The variable speed limits will be used to adjust speed limits during busy periods to control the flow of vehicles and prevent traffic grinding to a halt. The current speed limit will be displayed on signs over or at the side of the carriageway. We use a red X symbol to show that a lane is closed because of an incident or some other obstruction, or people working in the road. Driving in a lane with a red X symbol is dangerous. You could be prosecuted.
What are the benefits?
Smart motorways relieve congestion and smooth the flow of the traffic, improving safety and journey times, and supporting economic development. We already have evidence of the benefits a smart motorway scheme can bring. The first smart motorway opened to traffic on the M42 in the Midlands in 2006; analysis of the data gathered since opening found that journey times improved, and emissions reduced due to traffic flowing more smoothly.
In addition, personal injury accidents have reduced by more than half since hard shoulder running was introduced; with an overall reduction in the severity of accidents.
The ‘Get Smart’ campaign has been created to help road users understand the different driving environments, types of signs and signals they will see and what to do in the event of a breakdown when travelling on a smart motorway. Each of these key themes is easily identifiable through a series of icons that appear on all of the campaign materials and on the Agency’s website.
M25 Junctions 23-27 Click here for more details