The Association of British Drivers is exasperated to hear that the Department of Transport intends to trial 80mph motorway speed limits only on sections of motorway which have variable speed limits 1. ABD spokesman Nigel Humphries explained:

“Motorways with variable speed limits are invariably busy urban sections which carry far more traffic than they were designed for — these are the last places such a trial should be carried out.”

The ABD wants to see fair trials carried out in a variety of locations around the country, on rural 3 lane sections of motorway, especially those sections with relatively low traffic levels.

Suitable sections of motorway might include:

• M6/M74 from M6 J36 (A590) in Cumbria to where the M74 changes from 3 lanes to 2 prior to J12 (A70) in South Lanarkshire (approx 100 miles with multiple junctions).
• The M69 in Leicestershire/Warwickshire between the M6 and M1 (14 miles with 1 junction).
• The M20 between J8 Maidstone and J9 Ashford in Kent (13 miles with no junctions).
• The M6 Toll which is significantly underused, and desperate to provide a benefit over the alternative and free M6 route.
• The M4 between J36 Bridgend and J38 Margam in South Wales (8 miles with 1 junction).
• The M4 between J19 (M32 Bristol) and J12 Reading (approx 65 miles with multiple junctions).
• The M5 between Weston-super-Mare and Exeter (approx 50 miles with multiple junctions).

Only if these trials prove successful should the trial be extended to other sections such as those with variable speed limits.

ABD Chairman Brian Gregory said:

“It sounds as if the DfT are attempting to manipulate the results of the trial before the so called 'consultation' has even started. The government must put a stop to sham consultations where decisions have clearly been made in advance. Only trials on free flowing sections of motorway will enable results to be properly assessed.”