Transportinfo.org.uk - today's transport news in the uk, hand picked for you each morning

Monday, 27 January 2020

BBC News

• MOTs: More details released about exemptions after test centre problemsTaxis and four-year-old cars will not be granted temporary MOT exemptions, Nichola Mallon reveals.

The Guardian

• UK's smart motorways to be reviewed after huge rise in near-missesBBC Panorama study shows increase on M25 from 72 to 1,485 in five years since conversion. Britain's network of smart motorways where drivers can use the hard shoulder is being urgently reviewed by the government after it was discovered that it resulted in 20 times more near-misses on the M25 London ring road alone.

The Telegraph

• In-car technology better at keeping older drivers safer on roads than mass retesting, study suggests [subscription]The mass retesting of older drivers is less safe than simple in-car technology, a report has found.

Times Online

• Safety to be tightened on smart motorways after 38 deaths [subscription]Smart motorways are to have new safety measures after an investigation found that 38 people were killed on the network in the last five years. The government is set to announce a series of improvements to motorways where the hard shoulder has been stripped out to create an extra lane because of mounting concerns that they are unsafe.
• UK car production slows to lowest since financial crisis [subscription]Car production in Britain has fallen to its lowest level since the financial crisis a decade ago, industry figures will confirm this week.

The Mirror

• Toxic air deadlier than car crashes as UK pollution linked to 1 in 19 deathsAn investigation by charity Centre for Cities has found one in 19 deaths in towns and cities is linked to toxic air. The death of nine-year-old Ella Kissi-Debrah from an asthma attack has been linked to unlawful levels of pollution

Birmingham Mail

• Smart motorway scheme involved in boy's M6 death is 'dangerous scandal', says AA bossThe traffic-busting "smart" motorway scheme has been described as a "dangerous scandal" after almost 40 deaths in just five years.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Private hire drivers fined after picking up undercover officers in city centre sting TWO private hire drivers have been fined for picking up customers who didn't pre book during an undercover operation.

London Evening Standard

• Smart motorway sees 20 times more near-misses since scheme began, figures suggestNear-misses on one of Britain's stretches of so-called smart motorway have increased 20-fold since the hard shoulder was taken away, according to new figures.

Other News Sources

• Wife of man killed on smart motorway says removing hard shoulder 'akin to manslaughter' Her husband was hit and killed by a lorry after he stopped in lane one to exchange details with another driver following a minor collision