During a court session at Reading Crown Court, it was revealed that the smart motorway system was not functioning correctly at the time of a tragic accident on the M4 motorway in Berkshire, which resulted in the death of a passenger named Pulvinder Dhillon. The incident occurred on March 7, 2022, when a Ford Transit van collided with a stationary Nissan Micra, leading to both vehicles being propelled forward, with the Nissan subsequently catching fire.

The malfunctioning smart motorway system had reportedly been non-operational for five days prior to the accident, raising serious concerns about traffic safety and the effectiveness of the system designed to manage vehicle flow. The Nissan Micra was forced to stop in the outside lane, and the collision highlights potential inadequacies in the monitoring and management of motorway systems that are supposed to prevent such dangerous situations.

Jurors heard that following the incident, National Highways implemented additional measures to address the issues with the smart motorway system. The court proceedings underline the implications of technological failures on road safety, and they may spark further scrutiny regarding the responsibilities of transport authorities in ensuring the safety of modern traffic management systems.