Campaigners Renew Calls for Transparency Over Delayed Smart Motorway Reports

A coalition of road safety campaigners, led by Smart Motorways Kill, will return to the Department for Transport this week to demand the immediate release of long-delayed Post Opening Project Evaluations (POPE) into the safety and performance of smart motorways.

The POPE reports, produced by National Highways, are designed to assess the real-world impact of major road schemes once operational. Campaigners argue the findings are vital for transparency, accountability, and evidence-based transport policy.

A previous POPE report revealed a stark contrast between forecasts and outcomes. Instead of delivering an expected £1 billion economic benefit, the scheme recorded a £200 million loss, largely due to slower traffic flows — contradicting National Highways’ repeated claims that smart motorways “cut journey times and boost the economy.”

The ongoing delay in publishing further evaluations has become increasingly contentious, with questions mounting over who holds responsibility for releasing the reports and why neither National Highways nor the Department for Transport has provided a clear explanation.

Confirmed attendees at this week’s event include:

• Sarah Champion MP

• Chris Todd, Director and Founder of Transport Action Network

• Chris Ames, journalist

• Representatives from RoadPeace

• Jack Gallowtree, crash survivor

• Claire Mercer, founder of Smart Motorways Kill

Invitations have also been extended to the Secretary of State for Transport and other key stakeholders, with responses still awaited.

The event aims to highlight years of delay and a perceived lack of transparency around the reports. Campaigners are calling on the DfT and National Highways to publish all outstanding POPE evaluations, provide answers to long-standing safety concerns, and ensure the lessons are learned to prevent future tragedies.

Smart Motorways Kill was founded by Claire Mercer following the death of her husband, Jason Mercer (44), who was killed alongside another driver on 7 June 2019 near junction 34 of the M1. What began as a minor collision tragically escalated into a fatal incident — one that campaigners say exposed serious flaws in the design and operation of smart motorways.

In the aftermath, Claire Mercer established the campaign to prevent further avoidable deaths and to hold those responsible to account. The group is seeking a Judicial Review against National Highways (formerly Highways England) and the Department for Transport, alleging systemic safety failures and mismanagement in the rollout of smart motorway schemes.