M-way limit may be cut to 60mph
Lower speeds could tackle air pollution, claim ministers – but critics say plans are a ‘cop out’
SPEED limits on busy motorways could be cut from 70mph to 60mph as part of Whitehall plans to curb air pollution.
Officials say vehicles travelling at faster speeds emit more toxic nitrogen oxides, which can cause respiratory illnesses.
The lower speed limits – if introduced – would be targeted at stretches of motorway with the worst air quality.
The proposals, buried in the Government’s clean air strategy, were greeted with dismay by motoring campaigners, who questioned the apparent environmental benefits and pointed out that British motorway speed limits would be among the lowest in Europe.
But environmental campaigners and opposition MPs still blasted the Government’s anti-pollution plans as a ‘cop out’. Some suggested proposals had been watered down ahead of the general election.
In the draft anti-pollution plans, published yesterday, ministers offered hope to drivers of diesel cars, saying councils should only impose charging zones in town centres as a last resort.
They also suggested 15,000 drivers of highly-polluting vehicles could benefit from a scrappage scheme – giving them £8,000 to buy a cleaner car – although this would be targeted at those on the lowest incomes. Councils were told to consider a range of antipollution measures as it emerged around 40 have at least one road which will breach air quality laws for years to come without action.
Ministers were forced to come up with a new strategy for cutting air pollution after the High Court ruled that existing plans were insufficient to meet EU law.
The draft proposals were published after the Government lost a legal bid to delay them until after the election next month. The final strategy will be outlined at the end of July. The Prime Minister blamed the last Labour government for encouraging motorists to buy diesel cars – supposedly cleaner as they emitted less carbon dioxide – by reforming vehicle duty.
Scientists have since performed a U-turn, warning that diesels produce more dangerous nitrogen oxides and sooty particulates.
Theresa May said: ‘What we want to ensure is that we are getting the balance right here between delivering the air quality improvement that we need, but recognising that there are a lot of people who went out and bought diesel cars because the last Labour government said that was the thing to do.’
Buried in one of the documents is the proposal for lower motorway speed limits. It says there is evidence to suggest that ‘vehicles travelling at high speeds emit greater levels of NOX (nitrogen oxides) the faster they travel’.
But the Government admitted ‘there is uncertainty in this area and the evidence would benefit from further monitoring in real world conditions’. Howard Cox, of
campaign group FairFuelUK, claimed the economy could suffer if the plans were implemented.
‘It’s not clear that dropping from 70 to 60 will reduce emissions but the impact on the economy could be significant,’ he said. ‘Small vehicle delivery times, representing the UK’s fastest area of commercial growth due to internet shopping, would be affected significantly. The UK would have one of the slowest motorway speed limits in the EU if adopted.’
But the strategy did offer hope for drivers of Britain’s 12million diesel cars, who were worried about extra charges. There were fears local councils would emulate London’s Labour Mayor Sadiq Khan, who plans to charge diesel drivers £24 a day to enter the city centre.
But ministers have dropped plans to give councils free rein over ‘clean air zones’ and charges. Instead, local authorities will have to get a ministerial sign-off before implementing such a scheme. The Government told councils not to penalise those who bought diesels ‘in good faith’ – saying charges should only be imposed where there is no alternative.
Other ideas could include removing speed humps to stop cars slowing and accelerating, and changing the ‘sequencing’ of traffic lights to improve vehicle flow.
However, critics said ministers were simply shifting responsibility on to councils. Ed Davey, Lib Dem candidate for Kingston and Surbiton, said: ‘This is not a plan, it’s a cop out. Instead of bold commitments to improve air quality, the Government is hiding behind yet another consultation and passing the buck to local authorities.’
In 2015, full powers to change speed limits was handed to the Scottish parliament under the Scotland Act in 2015.
Oliver Hayes, of charity Friends of the Earth, added: ‘If reports are true and these plans have been watered down because of the general election, ministers will have shown a shocking disregard for protecting people’s health.’
Comment – Page 18