Classic fans welcome move to ditch roads that leave cars at the mercy of technology if they break down
The cover story
Reports that government plans for new smart motorways have been offically dropped have been met with abject joy and relief from classic car experts.
The controversial roads, many of which involve using the hard shoulder as an extra lane, part- or full-time, have been a major cause of concern for owners of classics worried about the lack of safe refuge in the event of breaking down.
Classic car parts specialist and Wolseley Register spokesman Andrew McAdam summed up his reaction in a single word. ‘Hallelujah!’ He added: ‘They have taken enough time. There were justifable doubts in the first place. It’s just a cheap way of increasing the width of a motorway but there are safety considerations.’
Ford Anglia 105E Owners’ Club chairman Paddi Hutchings-Clark commented: ‘Whoever thought up “smart motorways” is an idiot. We use our cars regularly and are happy to take them on motorways but it’s not good to have areas where you can’t pull onto the hard shoulder.’
Rover Sports Register chairman Mike Maher added: ‘The thought of breaking down on a smart motorway is frightening, especially when there are no hazard warning lights fitted to a car. It’s a very good thing if we have no more “smart motorways”. Hopefully something can be done about those which already exist. We don’t want to prevent the smooth running of the motorway, but the “smart” system is not the answer.’
Tanya Field is chair of both the Maestro and Montego Owners’ Club and the Rover 800 Register. She said:‘I don’t think anyone is a
