The 60mph speed limits on the M1 and M6 are set to be scrapped after National Highways said that air quality had improved but admitted that the problem will be solved another way.
Drivers have been forced to slow down since 2021, amid efforts to see if a slower speed helps reduce emissions.
The restrictions, which were in place at Rotherham on the M1 and Witton on the M6, were initially only meant to be in place for 12 to 15 months.
National Highways have now announced that the roads will return to the national speed limit of 70mph, and that “ultimately, air quality will be solved at the tailpipe”.
Motorway speed limits on the M1 and M6 are set to be axed after the National Highway has noticed improvements to air quality
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National Highways released a report earlier this week which showed that nitrogen dioxide levels fell in the Rotherham speed restriction zone from 39 micrograms per square metre to 35.
However, the organisation seemingly did not account for different types of vehicles on the road as they did not confirm whether the decrease in pollution seen in the test was due to the reduced speed limit or because there were more electric vehicles on the road.
Angela Halliwell, National Highways’ head of carbon and air quality group, said: “There is an overall trend that air quality is improving across our network. Removing 60mph speed limits from sections of the M1 and M6 where air quality has improved is a positive step.
“Ultimately, air quality will be solved ‘at the tailpipe’ by vehicle manufacturers and changes in vehicle use.”
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The restrictions were initially only meant to be in place for 12 to 15 months
PA.In Manchester, pollution also dropped 38 micrograms per square metre to 31.
Whilst pollution dropped in both areas, data showed that the average speed of motorists did not change.
Average speeds were already around 60mph, meaning the restrictions did not heavily impact how quickly a driver was travelling.
The organisation said it was “highly unlikely” that pollution would exceed the legal limit if the restrictions were removed.
National Highways did not confirm whether the decrease in pollution was due to the trials or because there were more electric vehicles on the road
PAHowever, it failed to say how it reached that conclusion.
National Highways said it would continue to monitor by Rotherham and Witton.
A spokesman for the AA said: “Removing the 60mph zones will allow traffic to move at speeds for which the roads were designed, thus improving journey times and the efficiency of the network.
“Where there are speed limits with no obvious reason, you lose the understanding and support of the driving public – eventually leading to anger.”
