The Government has cancelled plans to introduce a 60mph speed limit on sections of the M1 and M3 motorways, which would have supposedly cut air pollution.
A 32-mile stretch of the M1 in Derbyshire and 2.8 miles of the M3 in Surrey had been identified as heavily polluted and tipped for lower enforced speed limits, but transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin has given the Highways Agency 18 months to come up with an alternative method of improving air quality at the locations.
If no method can be found then the 60mph limit may be enforced at peak travelling times, but the secretary has said a blanket cut in the speed limit will not come into force.
Alternative means now under consideration include introducing high barriers along the sides of the affected stretches of the motorway to divert air pollution away from the ground and cut noise pollution. The concept of banning vehicles with particularly high emissions at certain times of the day has also been touted.
