Drivers have been urged to follow two tips to stay confident whilst travelling on a type of road a significant number of Brits feel unsafe using. Whilst the Government prevented the further roll-out of smart motorways in April 2023, they are still a common sight across the UK. However, according to a survey carried out by the AA on over 13,500 drivers, one in three motorists still doesn’t feel safe on these types of motorways. 

James Harding, tyre specialist at Blackcircles, suggested that drivers should always check whether the motorway they are using is an all-lane running road to stay confident. He advised: "To check if a motorway has a hard shoulder, look for a solid white line separating the leftmost lane from the rest of the carriageway; if there is a clear solid white line, it indicates a hard shoulder is present. If there is no solid white line, it's likely an 'all-lane running' smart motorway with no hard shoulder, and you should use designated emergency areas instead."

According to Blackcircles, one of the easiest ways in which drivers can boost their confidence is by keeping in the left-hand lane wherever possible.

Whilst drivers could receive penalties for hogging the middle of fast lanes on any type of motorway, keeping to the left is particularly important on a smart motorway, with drivers not having to cross multiple lanes in order to enter an emergency refuge area (ERA) in the event of a breakdown.

Keeping to the left lane can also help motorists avoid causing congestion, with other road users easily and safely able to overtake them if necessary. However, drivers should always avoid travelling in a lane that has been closed, which are marked with a red 'X' on an overhead gantry.

The company also suggested that motorists learn exactly what they should do if they encounter an issue with their vehicle whilst travelling on an all-lane running smart motorway.

In most cases, drivers should try to reach the nearest ERA, which are typically located at intervals of less than 1.5 miles and feature a bright yellow surface. Once they have stopped, drivers should get out of their vehicle and away from moving traffic before calling for help.

However, if their vehicle cannot be driven to an ERA, motorists should put their hazard warning lights on and dial 999 immediately, where traffic officers will close the lane in order to prevent accidents with other road users.