DRIVERS are to be allowed to use the hard shoulder on Britain’s busiest motorways to help ease traffic congestion, the Government will announce today Thursday (October 25).
Using the ‘success’ of a trial scheme on an 11-mile stretch of the M42 south of Birmingham as evidence, the idea will be extended within the next two years to include the M25, M4, M20, M1 and M6.
At peak times overhead gantry signs will direct drivers to use the hard shoulder, which is usually out of bounds. The move is regarded as an easier and cheaper option than motorway widening schemes.
However, safety groups have expressed fears as to where motorists who break down will be able to stop and access to incidents for the emergency services. But, the Government will say that in the event of incidents the signs can be changed in seconds.
Additionally, ‘emergency refuge areas’ - lay-bys - will be built at regular intervals beyond the hard shoulder. (Daily Telegraph: October 22).
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