Brakes put on 80mph motorway limit plan

PLANS to raise the motorway speed limit to 80mph have been consigned to the slow lane after Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said the move was “not a priority”.

The policy was launched with a fanfare in 2011 by then transport secretary Philip Hammond, who claimed the 70mph limit had been “discredited” and a rise to 80mph would boost the economy.

But Mr McLoughlin is reported not to share his enthusiasm for the plan, which has been condemned by road safety groups, and it has been sidelined.

In an interview with The Times, Mr McLoughlin said: “Look, that’s not a priority, to be absolutely honest. You would have to do trials in certain areas so it’s not something that’s a high priority.”