The rollout of Britain’s controversial so-called smart motorways should be put on hold due to safety concerns, says a committee of MPs. A report by the Commons Transport Select Committee (TSC) published on Nov. 2 said that more data is needed on safety and economics. Smart motorways were developed to increase capacity without having to add extra traffic lanes. They get their name from using technology to shut and slow lanes in response to accidents and breakdowns, freeing up the emergency hard-shoulder lane to be flexibly used for regular traffic when needed. Concerns have been raised following fatal incidents involving broken-down vehicles being hit from behind. Last spring the government decided all future smart motorways would be the “all-lane-running” versions, where the emergency hard shoulder is turned into a permanent traffic lane, and periodic escape areas added instead. The TSC report described that the decision was “premature” and urged ministers to …