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Motorists Welcome New Motorway Speed Limit

06 August 2020

The speed limit through motorway roadworks in England is set to change, thanks to the persistence of motorists. 

On Sunday, July 26 2020, the forthcoming change was announced on the Highways England website, after trialling the idea over the past 18 months. 

The limit will see an increase of 10mph, rising from 50mph to 60mph. The change comes after Highways England conducted research amongst motorists, which reflected that many were ‘frustrated at not being able to go quicker’. Some would say that this frustration has been long-standing amongst road users, as has the call for action. 

Whilst Highways England has not given a date for which this new speed limit will be fully introduced, the announcement states that roads such as ‘the M1 between junctions 13 to 16 in Northamptonshire, the M6 between junctions 13 to 15 in Staffordshire, and on the M4 between junctions 3 to 12 near Reading’ will continue to use the new 60mph limit through roadworks. Furthermore, the policy will be rolled out on a case-to-case basis and, in some instances, the 40mph and 50mph limits will be retained. 

The ‘60mph within roadworks trials’, which covered a variety of variables and included ‘comprehensive risk assessments’, found that fewer drivers exceeded the new 60mph limit, than the previous, 50mph limit – which Highways England has recognised as ‘bringing safety benefits’. According to a report by the Department for Transport, in 2018 it was recorded that 46% of cars exceeded the speed limit on motorways throughout Great Britain.   

In addition to this, Highways England said that they have received positive feedback from road-users about the change, with many reporting that they saved time on their journey and felt safer travelling through the roadworks. Highways England’s recently uploaded a video to their YouTube channel, in which they ‘asked road-users who had driven through the higher speed limit for their thoughts’. You can watch the video here.

The trials were generally conducted over an eight to ten-week period, with some of them proving successful enough that they were extended for the entire duration of that particular road work. 

The Chief Executive of Highways England, Jim O'Sullivan, indicated that the change is well-timed, as the company recently delivered their road investment programme, which will see a rise in motorway road works. He said, “We have a huge programme of work planned, so being able to use 60mph where safe will continue to improve everybody’s experience of our roads”.  

The Police watchdog ‘welcomed’ the change. Chief Executive, Anthony Smith, said that “We know road users want speed limits in roadworks to be no lower than necessary to maintain safety – so 60mph in roadworks wherever it is safe to do it is a welcome step”.

We at Marshall Leasing support the new speed limit for motorway roadworks and recognise both the safety benefits and added convenience for motorists. As they say, watch this space.  

Image Courtesy of Highways England.

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