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'Extra lane' scheme goes national 'Extra lane' plan to be extended
(about 2 hours later)
Motorists will be allowed to drive on the hard shoulder of motorways during busy times, Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly has said.Motorists will be allowed to drive on the hard shoulder of motorways during busy times, Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly has said.
The "extra lane" scheme will roll out on certain motorways in England following the success of a trial on the M42 in the West Midlands. The "extra lane" scheme will be rolled out on the M6 near Birmingham following a successful trial on the nearby M42.
It is intended to ease morning and evening rush-hour bottlenecks. It aims to ease rush-hour bottlenecks, and could be extended to other motorways in the future.
Sensors detect traffic build-up, which trigger signs asking drivers to slow down and spread out.Sensors detect traffic build-up, which trigger signs asking drivers to slow down and spread out.
Reports suggest the scheme will be introduced in the next two years.
During the trial, a 50mph speed limit was imposed while the "extra lanes" were in operation.During the trial, a 50mph speed limit was imposed while the "extra lanes" were in operation.
The report on the M42 trial is expected to show a 13% increase in capacity and a reduction in journey times north by up to 25%. The report on the M42 trial has shown a reduction in journey times north by up to 25% and a drop in the average accident rate from 5.2 per month to 1.5.
There are emergency refuges approximately every 500 metres along this section of motorway and that's where people can park safely if they break down Graham BowskillHighways Agency HAVE YOUR SAY I drive that stretch of M42 everyday and it works very well Spilsbup, Birmingham class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=3733&edition=1">Send us your comments
The BBC understands the system will be extended to the M6 near Birmingham at a cost of £150m. The M40 will also be included. The report also found there had been a drop in pollution around the M42, with fuel consumption down by 4% and vehicle emissions down by 10%.
Other roads to be considered include the M1, M25, M4 and M20. But Tony Bosworth, from Friends of the Earth (FoE), disagreed there were environmental benefits: "It's effectively motorway widening on the cheap.
The report will also say there has been a drop in pollution around the M42, but Friends of the Earth (FoE) disagree.
Tony Bosworth, from FoE, said: "It's effectively motorway widening on the cheap.
"We believe it's simply going to encourage more drivers and cause an increase in carbon dioxide.""We believe it's simply going to encourage more drivers and cause an increase in carbon dioxide."
Nowhere to stopNowhere to stop
Ms Kelly said "extra lanes" would be introduced on the M6 between junctions 4 and 5 near the Birmingham NEC arena, and junctions 8 and 10A between the M5 link and the M54 motorway junction.
The expansion will cost £150m and is due to be completed by 2011.
The government is also launching a feasibility study to consider including the M1, M25, M4 and M20 in the future.
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) said it had reservations about the changes when they were first introduced on the M42, near Birmingham.The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) said it had reservations about the changes when they were first introduced on the M42, near Birmingham.
Kevin Clinton, from RoSPA, said: "We were concerned that if the hard shoulder is used as a running lane, if there was a major crash it may take the emergency services longer to get there.Kevin Clinton, from RoSPA, said: "We were concerned that if the hard shoulder is used as a running lane, if there was a major crash it may take the emergency services longer to get there.
There are emergency refuges approximately every 500 metres along this section of motorway and that's where people can park safely if they break down Graham BowskillHighways Agency
"Or when someone breaks down, they may not be able to get their vehicle out of the running lane.""Or when someone breaks down, they may not be able to get their vehicle out of the running lane."
There is a risk that rolling it out nationally there could be skimping which would be counter-productive and even dangerous Paul WattersHead of roads policy at the AA
But Graham Bowskill, from the Highways Agency, told the BBC that the hard shoulder would not be opened to traffic if there was a broken down vehicle on it.But Graham Bowskill, from the Highways Agency, told the BBC that the hard shoulder would not be opened to traffic if there was a broken down vehicle on it.
"We do actually have cameras that are constantly monitoring to see whether there are any parked vehicles," Mr Bowskill said."We do actually have cameras that are constantly monitoring to see whether there are any parked vehicles," Mr Bowskill said.
"At the same time, we've built additional safety features into the scheme."At the same time, we've built additional safety features into the scheme.
"There are emergency refuges approximately every 500 metres along this section of motorway and that's where people can park safely if they break down.""There are emergency refuges approximately every 500 metres along this section of motorway and that's where people can park safely if they break down."
The BBC's Nicola Pearson said the M42 trial found that lowering the speed limit when the hard shoulder was open significantly reduced accidents. Ms Kelly said the M42 trial had been "really impressive", adding: "People get from their front door to their place of work in a much more reliable time frame.
"The safety fears that some people have haven't materialised at all and, not only that, it's good for the economy and the environment too."
'More comfortable''More comfortable'
Paul Watters, head of roads policy at the AA, said the M42 trial appeared to be working well although it had so far not been tested by a major incident.Paul Watters, head of roads policy at the AA, said the M42 trial appeared to be working well although it had so far not been tested by a major incident.
There is a risk that rolling it out nationally there could be skimping which would be counter-productive and even dangerous Paul WattersHead of roads policy at the AA
"It's a much more comfortable experience [for drivers]. They travel slower, but get to their journey destination quicker," he said."It's a much more comfortable experience [for drivers]. They travel slower, but get to their journey destination quicker," he said.
Mr Watters said his organisation backed the expansion if it was done "for the right reasons and in the right manner".Mr Watters said his organisation backed the expansion if it was done "for the right reasons and in the right manner".
"We wouldn't support just taking the hard shoulder away.""We wouldn't support just taking the hard shoulder away."
And he added: "There is a risk that rolling it out nationally there could be skimping which would be counter-productive and even dangerous."And he added: "There is a risk that rolling it out nationally there could be skimping which would be counter-productive and even dangerous."
The use of variable speed limits will be introduced on the M40 between junctions 16 and 3A and where it joins the M42 south of Birmingham.
Variable speed limits currently in operation on the M42 will be extended north to junction 9.