60mph Motorway Speed Limit Plan on Hold

A proposal to introduce 60mph speed limits on some of the UK's busiest motorways in a bid to cut air pollution has been put on hold. 

Transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin has given the Highways Agency 18 months to come up with other methods that will reduce the high level of pollutants on a 32-mile stretch of the M1 in Derbyshire and South Yorkshire and 2.8 miles of the M3 in Surrey.

Mr McLoughlin ruled out the idea of a blanket cut in the speed limit but, if an appropriate alternative is not found, the 60mph limit could still be imposed at peak time. 

The Highways Agency has been asked to look at other ways of cutting pollution and monitoring air quality. This could include constructing high barriers to funnel fumes away from ground level or limiting heavily-polluting vehicles at certain times.

Two sections of the M1 and part of the M3 have already begun the transformation to become a "smart motorway", which allows the hard shoulder to be used either permanently or during busy periods. The speed limit can then be varied or lanes closed in emergencies by using the overhead signs.

Construction has already begun between junctions 28 and 31 of the M1 in Derbyshire and junctions 32 and 35a in South Yorkshire, and on the M3, between junctions 2 and 4a. This should increase capacity by a third and improve journey times by up to ten per cent on the M1 schemes and 15 per cent on the M3, where average speeds are currently 45mph during rush-hour, reports the BBC.

However, the Highways Agency is concerned that this extra traffic could break EU air quality rules, and harm the health of people living and working near the motorways, which led the agency to propose that 60mph limits be enforced between 7am and 7pm every day to cut pollution.

Mr McLoughlin rejected this approach, saying: "Let me be absolutely clear, I want all motorways to run at 70mph. While it sometimes makes sense to use variable limits to keep people moving, blanket reductions are not acceptable."