Widow of driver killed on smart motorway lets rip at Labour over speed camera failures

Widow of driver killed on smart motorway lets rip at Labour over speed camera failures Claire Mercer, whose husband Jason died on the M1 in 2019, vents fury as 154 speed cameras go more than a year without enforcing limits Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Add us as preferred source Comments By Aaron Newbury , Political Correspondent 07:00, Sat, Oct 31, 2026 Claire Mercer's husband Jason died on the M1 near Sheffield (Image: Claire Mercer) The widow of a man killed on a smart motorway has accused Labour of ditching a pledge to upgrade life-saving cameras meant to protect drivers.

Claire Mercer, whose husband Jason died on the M1 near Sheffield in 2019, said ministers had broken their word on the controversial roads. Her fury comes as it emerged that 154 speed cameras on smart motorways and A-roads have gone more than a year without enforcing variable speed limits. Now National Highways has admitted it has no plans to add any new safety technology to smart motorways, despite a government pledge just months ago. Mrs Mercer told the Sunday Express: “The Government said they would spend millions on fixing the cameras.

Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT “They have not done it, and they will not do it. We talk about having driverless cars. But we cannot even have technologically advanced roads – it’s all smoke and mirrors.” The Government’s five-year roads plan, known as RIS3, told National Highways to “continue to invest in the technology needed to help increase public confidence”. It singled out “upgrading CCTV cameras to detect incidents” as a key way to do it.

Get the day's biggest headlines in UK and World news and more I would like to receive emails from the Daily Express featuring our latest products, services, offers, and promotions from across the Reach Plc family . Subscribe Invalid email You agree you are 18 or over. We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you.

You can unsubscribe at any time. More Info . BBC Question Time erupts into chaos after Zia Yusuf calls Alastair Campbell 'war criminal' 'Vote Restore get Labour!' Reform despair as they lose election by just two votes Yet less than six months in, the government-owned company has confessed it has no plans to add any new technology at all. The admission was dragged out of National Highways only after Mrs Mercer challenged its refusal to answer her Freedom of Information request.

Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT Under the law, people have the right to demand information from public bodies, which must normally respond within 20 working days. The company first claimed it did not hold the figures, because the Government was consulting on plans to slash its capital funding by £428million over four years. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT But an internal review forced a humiliating climbdown, conceding its original response “was not compliant with the Freedom of Information Act”.

It then revealed it would spend an estimated £309million replacing ageing roadside kit on smart motorways, including £46million on CCTV. But the cash will only replace old equipment “where needed due to their age or obsolescence”, without a single penny going on new cameras. An independent review into the camera fiasco was ordered in January and was expected to take at least 18 weeks. It still has not been published. Transport sources say they are working round the clock clearing up the mess.

Mrs Mercer, who has campaigned tirelessly since her husband’s death, said successive governments had repeatedly failed drivers. She said: “We’ve had six prime ministers and seven secretaries of state in the last seven years alone and even more promises, but very little action. What is it going to take for them to realise the tangible, always present, already there and much cheaper hard shoulder is the best option?” MPs took aim at the Government, with Tory shadow minister Greg Smith saying: “Labour’s smart motorways aren’t looking very smart when 440 miles are reportedly without functioning cameras.

Ministers need to take responsibility, come clean about this failure and get the system working properly.” A National Highways spokesperson said: “We take the safety of our roads extremely seriously and our thoughts are with Ms Mercer. Speeding offences continue to be detected and prosecuted, and a range of enforcement measures are in place to help keep road users safe.” The system is believed to be going through extensive testing to ensure the problem is properly fixed.

Drivers are urged to continue to stick to life-saving speed limits across the country. National Highways Motorway Labour Party Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Add us as preferred source Comments