Campaigner shares the tragic reason she's taking Highways England to court

29 January 2020, 17:05 | Updated: 29 January 2020, 17:21

This campaigner tells Nick Ferrari a shocking and tragic story about smart motorways and why she's raising funds to take Highways England to court.

Police Federation chief John Apter called "smart motorways" a "death trap" after it was found 38 people have died in the last five years due to the traffic management technique.

He said it is "inherently dangerous" to use hard shoulders as an extra driving lane and accused Highways England of misleading the country with this concept.

Claire Mercer, who lost her husband Jason due to a smart motorway last year, shared why she has started the campaign Smart Motorways Kill to get the policy removed.

Her husband had a minor bump with someone on the motorway and the pair pulled over as far as they could "but the barrier wouldn't let them get completely out of the live lanes and there was no banking for them to get over on to into safety.

"They swapped details... but they weren't picked up or spotted by the camera operators and a lorry didn't see them and hit them and killed them both instantly."

Police Federation chief called smart motorways a "death trap"
Police Federation chief called smart motorways a "death trap". Picture: PA

This tragic fatality happened on the M1 in Meadowhall, a motorway on which five people have died in the last ten months.

Mrs Mercer said she wanted to see smart motorways "completely scrapped" and insisted they should never have been opened.

She is raising funds for legal fees to take Highways England to court for judicial review of the smart motorways, as she wants to see them forcibly removed.

"I just don't understand how anybody thought it was a good idea and I sincerely hope that their loved ones aren't caught in the same situation," Mrs Mercer said, and explained how it has affected so many lives.

"It's wrecked my life, I've never even spent a night in the house on my own before and now I live on my own," she said, "it's affected every single part of my life."

More Nick Ferrari

See more More Nick Ferrari

'Iran has a democratic candidate, unlike Iraq...'

Iraqi caller explains why Iran-Iraq comparisons fall short

It's not fair

Nick Ferrari loses his patience with caller over ‘non-dom’ tax scheme

Caller Som has a warning from the past as the conflict between Israel and Iran escalates.

Caller Som has a warning from history as Israel and Iran conflict escalates

LBC callers react to Israel’s ‘risky’ strike on Iran

LBC callers react to Israel’s ‘risky’ strike on Iran

Caller in Israel warns against Iran becoming a nuclear-armed state

Caller in Israel warns against Iran becoming a nuclear-armed state

Caller points out that Israel denied entry to Labour MPs as UK comes under fire for new sanctions

Caller points out that Israel denied entry to Labour MPs as UK comes under fire for new sanctions

Caller Layla

Caller Layla fears for her daughters following Kemi Badenoch's Burqa comments

Caller Barry

LBC caller backs the government's reversal on the winter fuel allowence

Nick Ferrari is unsure about caller Bill's proposal to turn migrant hotels into prisons

Nick Ferrari is unsure about caller Bill's proposal to turn migrant hotels into prisons

Call the Cabinet: Nick Ferrari is joined by Environment Secretary Steve Reed to take your calls

Call the Cabinet: Nick Ferrari is joined by Environment Secretary Steve Reed to take your calls

LBC reaction: 1200 Channel migrants arrive in a single day

LBC reaction: 1200 Channel migrants arrive in a single day

Exclusive
'Elite mindset' and ‘left-wing opinion’ fuelling migrant crisis says Nick Ferrari as he slams government

'Elite mindset' and ‘left-wing opinion’ fuelling migrant crisis says Nick Ferrari as he slams the government

Reform, racism and ‘a perverse Batman’ | LBC’s best callers of the week

Reform, racism and ‘a perverse Batman’: LBC’s best callers of the week

'Farage is a media-made man'

David and Nick debate whether 'tiny and ridiculous' Reform gets too much airtime

Tube worker John

Tube worker shares his close encounters with fare dodgers

LBC callers react to Netanyahu calling out Starmer for being on the 'wrong side of humanity'

LBC callers react to Netanyahu calling out Starmer for being on the 'wrong side of humanity'