News: 60mph speed limit trial complete on M1 through Rotherham
A trial of 60mph speed limits on the M1 in Rotherham to address air quality has been completed.
Rothbiz reported in 2020 that Highways England (now National Highways) was introducing the speed limits as action needed to be taken to reduce emissions and improve air quality.
The limits were made operational 24 hours a day instead of during peak times as they were previously when the M1 all-lane running became operational in the region and open to traffic in 2017. The section was designated as Britain's first ever Air Quality "Speed Limit" based motorway.
The move followed on from 2014, when the then Transport Secretary put the brakes on the agency's plans to implement a maximum mandatory 60mph speed limit in the area.
The expectation for the trials was a reduction in nitrogen dioxide (NO2) when traffic is reduced from 70 to 60mph but Covid 19 lockdowns in 2020 and 2021 and the reduced traffic flows impacted traffic and emissions levels, and National Highways' ability to collect monitoring data.
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Monitoring contined after COVID and now the government-owned company charged with operating, maintaining and improving motorways and major A roads in England, say that the speed limit trial between M1 junctions 34 to 33 at Rotherham is complete, "after evidence showed that air quality at these locations has improved."
Initial findings showed that managing speed at 60mph has the most significant impact, reducing emissions on average by 17%, and that the impact on journey times is considered minimal due to the section of the motorway being less than 4.5 miles.
South Yorkshire was identified as a location where NO2 levels exceeded the legal limit annual mean limit level of 40 µg/m³.
Last year the government confirmed that plans for new smart motorways would be cancelled in recognition of the "lack of public confidence felt by drivers and cost pressures." The government and National Highways also said that it would continue to invest £900m in further safety improvements on existing smart motorways.
An emergency area retrofit continues to double the number of emergency areas on the M1 between junction 32 at Thurcroft and junction 35A at Stocksbridge, with 12 new emergency areas being added to the existing eight.
As work is expected to be complete by winter 2024, drivers will have to wait for the return of 70mph limits in the area as the left-hand lane remains closed throughout construction to allow engineers to carry out the upgrade safely. For lanes two, three and four, they remain open with a 50mph speed limit in place.
In December, National Highways confirmed that the stretch of the M1 between junctions 28 to 31 would gain additional emergency areas but no start date for work was given.
National Highways website
Images: National Highways
Rothbiz reported in 2020 that Highways England (now National Highways) was introducing the speed limits as action needed to be taken to reduce emissions and improve air quality.
The limits were made operational 24 hours a day instead of during peak times as they were previously when the M1 all-lane running became operational in the region and open to traffic in 2017. The section was designated as Britain's first ever Air Quality "Speed Limit" based motorway.
The move followed on from 2014, when the then Transport Secretary put the brakes on the agency's plans to implement a maximum mandatory 60mph speed limit in the area.
The expectation for the trials was a reduction in nitrogen dioxide (NO2) when traffic is reduced from 70 to 60mph but Covid 19 lockdowns in 2020 and 2021 and the reduced traffic flows impacted traffic and emissions levels, and National Highways' ability to collect monitoring data.
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Monitoring contined after COVID and now the government-owned company charged with operating, maintaining and improving motorways and major A roads in England, say that the speed limit trial between M1 junctions 34 to 33 at Rotherham is complete, "after evidence showed that air quality at these locations has improved."
Initial findings showed that managing speed at 60mph has the most significant impact, reducing emissions on average by 17%, and that the impact on journey times is considered minimal due to the section of the motorway being less than 4.5 miles.
South Yorkshire was identified as a location where NO2 levels exceeded the legal limit annual mean limit level of 40 µg/m³.
Last year the government confirmed that plans for new smart motorways would be cancelled in recognition of the "lack of public confidence felt by drivers and cost pressures." The government and National Highways also said that it would continue to invest £900m in further safety improvements on existing smart motorways.
An emergency area retrofit continues to double the number of emergency areas on the M1 between junction 32 at Thurcroft and junction 35A at Stocksbridge, with 12 new emergency areas being added to the existing eight.
As work is expected to be complete by winter 2024, drivers will have to wait for the return of 70mph limits in the area as the left-hand lane remains closed throughout construction to allow engineers to carry out the upgrade safely. For lanes two, three and four, they remain open with a 50mph speed limit in place.
In December, National Highways confirmed that the stretch of the M1 between junctions 28 to 31 would gain additional emergency areas but no start date for work was given.
National Highways website
Images: National Highways
24 comments:
'In December, National Highways confirmed that the stretch of the M1 between junctions 28 to 31 would gain additional emergency areas but no start date for work was given.'
It's been in place for weeks now, just not all the way down to J28. You see the odd worker, but most of them have their hands on their hips!
Government and Highways advise, 'if you can't get to a layby, get out of the car and off the road'. They KNOW that many disabled people CAN'T get out, but their risk assessment says they are not worth the cost of a hard shoulder!
Or a hip replacement
I wish they'd stop doing these trials around Rotherham. God forbid the trial it anywhere in the south.
We are expendable
Aren’t we just, dnd it’s so obvious
The only problem with smart motorways are the drivers who aren't smart enough to use them.
So if you break down in the area without a refuge area what are you meant to do?
That is stupid and callous.
If drivers aren't smart enough to use them then they are not fit for purpose. Also, it is to be hoped that your driving is smarter than your comment.
Research has shown that smart motorways are safer than conventional ones, "UNLESS YOU BREAK DOWN". That's a pretty important "unless" don't you think? For anyone who has to drive young children and elderly parents, breaking down on a smart motorway is their worst nightmare.
A potential risk factor on smart motorways is that emergency vehicle response times to accidents is significantly longer where there is no hard shoulder access.
The only problem? If you believe that then you are the one who isn't very smart.
Do your research, each accident on smart motorways has been the fault of the driver. We need to stop this blame culture and take some ownweship.
Yes, generally speaking there are fewer serious accidents on smart motorways than conventional ones. But has already been alluded to, the major concern is the absence of a hard shoulder in the event of an accident. That puts people at risk of serious injury or death at a time when they are most vulnerable. Unless this issue is resolved smart motorways should revert to conventional ones
I use the M1 every day and have done for years. It's so much better now, so fewer queuing. If people didn't drive like fools this wouldn't be a conversation. And let's be fair, the only drivers who regularly use lane 1 are wagon drivers.
Most accidents are caused by a driver no matter what sort of road it is!
Does anyone not believe the findings of this report? It was always designed to get the result that they wanted, namely reducing the speed limit. Nothing to do with air quality!!
In response to the comment at 11.15 am… any congestion is caused by people like you (“fools”) who SHOULD use “lane 1” if it’s empty… My experience of dumb (“smart”) motorways is that (apart from being dangerous) they are a COMPLETE waste of time… as the extra lane is invariably not used!
Agree. There are some really arrogant drivers. You see them all the time. Accidents are always the fault of fools
The irony is that most accidents are caused by arrogant drivers who never have any consideration for other drivers and of course would never dream of using the inside lane unless it's to cut up other drivers when they move from the outside lane to exit the motorway.
I suggest the arrogant poster goes and tells campaigner Claire Mercer that her Husbands entirely preventable death was caused by him not being smart enough to use the smart motorway. A frankly despicable post from that person.
Youve completely misinterpreted my post for your own gain. Read the facts of that incident and you'll learn the driver that crashed into both men who died was to blame.
Quote from Yorkshire Post:
"Prezemyslaw Zbigniew Szuba, who was driving the lorry which ploughed into the two men, was jailed for 10 months after admitting two counts of causing death by driving without due care and attention."
But if there had still been a hard shoulder it would never have happened. What's hard to get?
Any view but his owm
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