IAM welcomes safety assurance as lights go out

The IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists) has welcomed the Highways Agency’s (HA) new policy to switch off motorway lighting as it targets the safest and quietest motorways.

IAM Director of Policy and Research, Neil Greig, said: “We were concerned that a rush to reduce the carbon footprint of motorway lighting might have led to safety taking a back seat. But the HA has struck the right balance by continuing to illuminate junctions and opting for low flow routes with a good road safety record.”

Mr Greig emphasized motorways are our safest roads but collisions are more likely to take place at or near junctions.

The IAM understands the HA has no plans to extend the switch off to ‘A’ class dual and single carriageways where lighting is key to reducing the risks of night time driving.