Rishi Sunak pledges to ditch unsafe smart motorways if he becomes PM

UNSAFE smart motorways and low traffic neighbourhoods which block ambulances would be ditched under a Rishi Sunak government.

The former Chancellor today promises to stop the “war on motorists” with a raft of pledges to protect Britain’s drivers.

Mr Sunak – who slashed fuel duty in one of his final acts in Government – also promised to clamp down on rogue private parking firms ripping off motorists.

He would bring in a new version of the Parking Code of Practise which forces firms to be more lenient with charges, bring in a new nationwide appeals process, and force firms to put up more signs in car parks.

And he swore to make sure rural areas don’t get left behind in the move to electric cars.

Ministers have already paused the rollout of smart motorways for five years over safety concerns.

Smart motorways – which involve using the hard shoulder as an extra lane – were brought in to increase road capacity.

But campaigners say they have led to needless deaths when cars break down and have nowhere to stop safely.

Mr Sunak said today smart motorways are “unsafe” and vowed to “stop with the pursuit of policies that go against common sense”.

He said: “The UK is a passionate driving nation because driving provides freedom.

“We need to stop making life difficult for the vast majority of people across the UK who rely on a car as their primary source of transport to healthcare, employment, and other essential day to day things.

“We need to listen to drivers and be on their side.

“As Chancellor I introduced the largest cut to fuel duty in a generation, and as Prime Minister I will go further so that we stop the war on motorists once and for all.”