He announced a review would be launched on the road networks immediately and results would be released in just a matter of weeks. He claims the recommendations would help make the roads as safe as they possibly can be after a string of crashes which have plagued them .
Mr Shapps confirmed in a House of Commons statement that some of the statistics had been difficult to understand but transport chiefs now know people are dying on the road networks.
The review will also determine whether the new schemes are less safe than existing motorways despite previous assurances from chiefs that the networks saved lives.
Speaking in the Commons, Mr Shapps said: “The House I know is very concerned about smart motorways.
“I’ve heard those concerns raised today and previously and I have asked my department to carry out at pace an evidence stocktake to gather the facts quickly and make recommendations.
“I will ensure that it’s the department that is making decisions on this because I think some of the statistics have been difficult to understand, and we know people are dying on smart motorways. Of course, we know 70 or 80 people die a year on full motorways.”
The networks use a system of cameras to detect stricken motorists. Chiefs can then shut down a live lane by displaying a red cross on signs above the road.
However, the AA claimed it can take an average of 17 minutes to spot a stationary vehicle which could lead to devastating consequences.
Four people were killed in just ten months on a stretch of smart motorway on the M1 after stationary cars were hit having stopped in a live lane.
An inquest is currently taking place after eight-year-old Dev Naran was killed after his grandfather’s Toyota was hit by a lorry at speed after stopping on a smart motorway.
Just one in ten motorists said they felt safe using the scheme, despite Highways England chiefs continually claiming the roads were safer.
The dramatic u-turn on smart motorways comes just weeks after a Highways England spokesperson told Express.co.uk the roads were improving safety.
A spokesperson said there was evidence which indicated all-lane running schemes had reduced casualty rates by more than 25 percent.
They also said roads without a hard shoulder were not safe and axing them would eliminate the risk of deaths and injuries.
They added: “Smart motorways include more features than conventional motorways to further enhance safety, and both are significantly safer for drivers than other roads.
“We will, of course, continue to monitor the safety performance of smart motorways – as we do with all of our roads – and are rolling out enhancements to improve the road user experience further.”