While the Department of Transport has opted to pause rollout of the new smart motorways sections near Hitchin will remain open, despite safety fears.

Despite the government insisting it will wait for a full five years worth of safety data, the Department for Transport has confirmed the open section of the smart motorway between junction 10 to 13 on the M1 will remain open as normal.

With many Hitchin motorists using one of the country's busiest motorways, the section between junctions 13 to 16 - which is currently being completed - are also set to open as smart motorways in March 2022, with eight new refuge areas to be added.

The move comes following the Transport Select Committee's recommendation for the scheme to be halted until they had more data.

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