The facts:

• The Government aims to reduce congestion by maximising the capacity of the existing motorway network
• On the M42, to the South-East of Birmingham, a new motorway scheme – Active Traffic Management (ATM) – was introduced in phases. The scheme is designed to tackle congestion and improve the reliability of journey times
• ATM includes driver information signs, mandatory speed limit signals, emergency refuge areas (as an alternative to the hard shoulder) and in September 2006, the first hard shoulder running scheme was introduced
• In August 2007, it was reported that widening of the M1 between junctions 21-30 is planned to start in 2012. As part of this scheme, consideration is being given to the use of active traffic management similar to that on the M42 south of Birmingham
• The hard shoulder network exists to ensure the safety of motorists, breakdown operators and emergency services
• RAC attends 134,000 motorway breakdowns annually and has a duty to protect the lives of its staff, customers, contractors and the general public

RAC position:

• RAC welcomes measures to tackle congestion. However, these measures must not compromise safety
• RAC believes that hard shoulders are important in ensuring the safety of motorists in emergency situations and providing access to emergency vehicles
• RAC recognises that the M42 hard shoulder running pilot has proved very successful at reducing congestion at busy times. This is largely down to the high level of investment in emergency refuge areas, CCTV and variable speed limits which means that the hard shoulder is used at appropriate times
• In May 2007, Stephen Ladyman MP (then Minister of State for Transport) was quoted as saying “Due to the relatively low number of accidents that occur on motorways, at least three years of post accident data will be needed before a definitive overall conclusion can be reached on the impact of hard shoulder running on safety” ^*. RAC would be concerned if further schemes were introduced before such data was available
• If any further hard shoulder running schemes are proposed, RAC would want to see the level of investment in the M42 project replicated to ensure that safety remains of paramount importance when introducing congestion management schemes

For further information contact:

Telephone: 01603 681914
jon.day@aviva.co.uk

Updated September 2007

back to Factsheets