Stopped vehicle detection upgrades
Making journeys even safer with radar-based technology

What's happening
We're upgrading motorways across the country with technology which detects stopped vehicles. Every motorway where the hard shoulder has been permanently converted to a live traffic lane will have the new radar-based technology by the end of September 2022.
This new stopped vehicle detection will enhance the existing systems that work together to help drivers feel safe and be safer on motorways without a hard shoulder. Already motorways have a system called MIDAS (Motorway Incident Detection and Automatic Signalling) which uses sensors to monitor traffic volumes and automatically set signs and signals as the motorway becomes more congested. Our upgraded motorways also include technology, Red X signs which close lanes to other traffic when a stopped vehicle is identified, emergency areas that are set back from the road for drivers to pull into, and signs and signals which can alert drivers to hazards and change the speed limit, if necessary.
How it works
We will install new radar units at the side of the road to monitor the motorway in both directions, detecting vehicles that have stopped.
The advantage of this new system is it is specifically designed to detect a stationary vehicle, typically in 20 seconds, and alert a control room operator who can see the incident on camera, close lanes and dispatch a National Highways traffic officer to attend to the stopped vehicle.
Using stopped vehicle detection means that there is a significant reduction in time taken for the control room operators to be notified of problems, to verify the presence of stationary vehicles and get help deployed more quickly.
About our roadworks
The vast majority of this upgrade work will be carried out overnight using temporary lane closures, with all restrictions removed during the day. We may need to cut back some vegetation to ensure the radar units can see the road, but we will keep this to a minimum and we don’t expect to have to remove any mature trees. Towards the end of the upgrade at each location, we may need to close the road overnight for testing and commissioning work. There will be clearly signed diversions in place and, again, we will remove all restrictions during the day.
Before we start work at any location, we will write to people who live near the motorway and to local representatives including councillors and MPs.
Our programme
We will be delivering these upgrades in phases, and all upgrades will be complete on every operational section of All Lane Running motorway by the end of September 2022.
Location | Region | Status |
M25 J5-7 (M26 near Clacket Lane to M23 near Hooley) | South East | Already in place |
M25 J23-27 (South Mimms to M11 near Epping Forest) |
South East |
Already in place |
M3 J2-4a (Thorpe Interchange to Farnborough) |
South East |
In place since December 2020 |
M20 J3-5 (M26 merge to Aylesford) |
South East |
In place since March 2021 |
M1 J32-35a (Thurcroft to Stocksbridge) |
Yorkshire and North East |
In place since December 2021 |
M6 J2-4 (Coventry to Coleshill) |
Midlands |
In place since January 2022 |
M23 J8-10 (M25 junction to Crawley) | South East | In place since December 2021 |
M1 J23a-25 (East Midlands Airport to Nottingham/Derby turn off) | Midlands | Work started April 2022 |
M1 J39-42 (Durkar to Lofthouse) |
Yorkshire and North East | In place since February 2022 |
M1 J28-31 (Alfreton to Sheffield/Worksop turn off) | Yorkshire and North East | Work started August 2021 |
M62 J10-12 (M6 near Fearnhead to M60 near Alder Forest) | North West | In place since April 2022 |
M5 J4a-6 (Catshill to Worcester) | Midlands | In place since March 2022 |
M6 J16-19 (Stoke-on-Trent to Knutsford) | North West | Work started February 2022 |
M62 J18-20 (Simister Island to Rochdale) | North West | Work started February 2022 |
M6 J10a-13 (Essington to Stafford South) | Midlands | Work started February 2022 |
M1 J16-19 (Daventry to the Catthorpe Interchange) | Midlands | Work started October 2021 |
M4 J8/9-12 (Maidenhead to Reading) | South East |
Installation included with M4 junctions 3 to 12 smart motorway major scheme |
M4 J3-8/9 (Heston to Maidenhead) | South East | Installation included with M4 junctions 3 to 12 smart motorway major scheme |
M27 J4-11 (Southampton to Fareham/Gosport) | South East | Installation included with M27 junctions 4 to 11 smart motorway major scheme |
M6 J13-15 (Stafford South to Stoke-on-Trent) | Midlands |
Installation included with M6 junction 13 to 15 smart motorway major scheme |
M1 J13-16 (Bedford to Daventry) | Midlands | Installation included with M1 junction 13 to 16 smart motorway major scheme |
M56 J6-8 (Hales Four Seasons roundabout to Tatton) | North West |
Installation included with M56 junction 6 to 8 smart motorway major scheme |
M6 J21a-26 (Croft Interchange to Orrell Interchange) | North West |
Installation included with M6 junction 21a to 26 smart motorway major scheme |
Find out more
You can email the project team directly at: stoppedvehicledetection@highwaysengland.co.uk