A successful trial of the CCTV system demonstrated that analytical technology can identify stranded vehicles in live lanes in all conditions. National Highways, however, has determined the video analytics service platform (VASP) is not up to scratch.

AA president, Edmund King, has voiced concern over the decision, expressing that CCTV systems could be “incredibly useful”.

National Highways have refused to share the results of its large-scale trial of the systems, despite the technology being cited in the Government’s smart motorway action plan as another solution. 

Other trials of the VASP have yielded positive results. Reports indicate that the system alerts incidents of interest to operators’ desks, allowing for a quicker response and more precise data.

However, the VASP has one obvious drawback. The CCTV cameras are currently incapable of automatic manoeuvrability and have to be reoriented manually. 

It is likely that this is the main concern from National Highways, who have instead favoured the existing radar-based stopped vehicle detection (SVD) system.

The report added: “The trial did observe external factors that could limit the use of CCTV to detect stopping vehicles, the main one being the reliability of camera feeds.”

National Highways did not explain, though, why CCTV technology is not being progressed. A spokesperson commented: “Our preferred approach is the continued rollout of stopped vehicle detection. It is the most effective solution.”

“In line with our company approach for continuous improvement, we will continue to review and, where possible, improve how we identify stopped vehicles.”

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The Transport Focus survey questioned 31,000 visitors of 119 motorway service stations up and down the country. Users rated their experience, scoring toilet cleanliness, value for money, electric vehicle charging, staff friendliness and their mood after leaving the services. 

Overall, motorway services across the board performed exceptionally well, with 93% of visitors reporting they were satisfied with their visit. 

At Rugby services, 100% of visitors were happy with their stop-off at the newest site on the motorway network.

Rugby was also rated as the service station visitors would recommend to friends and family as well as boasting the cleanest toilets – 99% agreed the toilets were neat, clean and well looked after. 

Transport Focus chief executive Anthony Smith said: “Our survey shows motorway service operators deliver good overall customer experience and facilities, but visitors don’t always feel they get value for money.

“Services continue to do a good job of their most important safety function – allowing drivers to rest and relax before getting back on the road.”

The key findings from the survey were as follows: 

• Staff at service stations are friendly and helpful – 9/10 visitors rated staff experience positively
• 88% of visitors were satisfied with the toilets. Extra and Roadchef service facilities had the highest ratings for toilets both at 93%
• Value for money continues to be the critical area for improvement – 37% of visitors didn’t think the food or drink on offer was good value for money
• Stopping at the services has a positive impact on drivers’ mood – almost one in three arrive saying they feel tired, stressed or frustrated, which fell to less than one in 10 after the visit
• HGV drivers were the least satisfied overall at 88%
• Users charging electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles rated the payment options at the services highly (91%) but gave lower ratings for value for money (68%) and for information available online (73%)

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Ms Truss stressed the importance of investment in the nation’s infrastructure and pledged that faster road building will be a priority under her leadership.

Ms Truss declared: “Now is the time to tackle the issues that are holding Britain back. We need to build roads, homes and broadband faster. We need more investment and great jobs in every town and city in the country.

“I have a bold plan to grow the economy through tax cuts and reform. I will cut taxes to reward hard work and boost business-led growth and investment. I will drive reform in my mission to get the United Kingdom working, building and growing.” 

Dealing with current pressures including mounting inflation and low energy supply, was also within her plan. The new PM has plenty of experience in the energy and telecommunications industry having previously worked in the sector for 10 years.

“We will get spades in the ground to make sure people are not facing unaffordable energy bills and we will also make sure that we are building hospitals, schools, roads and broadband”, Truss added.

The next steps for investment in the strategic road network will come from the Department for Transport’s draft Road Investment Strategy. This will then be finalised and National Highways’ will begin its Strategic Business Plan, mobilising the building of new roads in 2024-2025.

Elizabeth Truss was appointed prime minister on 6 September 2022. She was previously secretary of state for foreign, commonwealth and development affairs from 15 September 2021 and minister for women and equalities from 10 September 2019.

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As part of the roll-out, the Government has pledged to spend an additional £100 million to facilitate autonomous vehicles, including £34 million towards new research and a further £20 million spent on commercial services. 

Alongside this, ministers have committed to bringing forward new laws to support the introduction of self-driving cars by 2025. This new legislation would implicate manufacturers as responsible for a vehicle’s actions, meaning human drivers would not be liable for any incidents related to driving. 

Users won’t need to hold a driving licence as the vehicle will undertake the entire journey without needing human input. The technology works by using a combination of lasers, cameras and radar to recognise objects, like other cars and pedestrians, to plot a course and navigate the car.

There are a few different levels of autonomous control. Some vehicles have driverless features which can be turned on or off by the driver, but other cars won’t need any human interaction at all.

Vehicles capable of driving themselves on motorways could be available to purchase within the next year, though users will need a valid driving licence to drive one.

The Government will also seek to determine regulatory guidelines for the governance of self-driving vehicles. The safety ambition for self-driving cars is to be as competent and careful as a safe human driver. 

This ambition would inform minimum benchmarks that vehicles need to meet before being allowed on our roads. Likewise, organisations such as manufacturers could face sanctions if these standards are not met.

Transport secretary Grant Shapps said: “We want the UK to be at the forefront of developing and using this fantastic technology, and that is why we are investing millions in vital research into the safety and setting the legislation to ensure we gain the full benefits that this technology promises.”

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