Six months after he became Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak has finally honoured one of the smaller, but more eye-catching, promises he made during his party leadership campaign. He has announced an end to the building of so-called ‘smart’ motorways, citing the economic cost and safety concerns.

In doing so, Sunak has halted a near 20-year policy that has been increasingly distinguished not only by its unpopularity among the car-driving public, but by its toll in lives.