Wednesday 19th May 2004

12 Feet Wide

RAC calls for extra lane on British Motorways

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A coalition of road user groups and business groups have launched the ‘12 feet wide’ campaign calling for an extra lane on motorways. With congestion costing the country at least £15 billion a year, the RAC Foundation is calling on the government to implement widespread improvements to the strategic network.

The RAC Foundation is one of a number of high-profile organisations supporting the campaign which argues that an extra lane on some of England’s busiest motorways will help relieve much of the congestion and prevent an otherwise inevitable gridlock. Motorways carry a fifth of all road traffic and are our safest roads. However, many of them are also severely congested causing widespread disruption to the distribution of goods and services and the diversion of traffic on to less suitable routes.

The RAC Foundation is increasingly concerned by the lack of urgency given to vital road improvements. Road traffic grew by an enormous 75% between 1980 and 2002 yet the total length of roads increased by only 10% in the same period.

Recent figures show that this growth in traffic levels is not slowing down with an increase in traffic of 1.8% between 2002 –2003. This scale of increase cannot be sustained without major investment into the road network.

The strategic network of motorways and trunk roads is the core of the national transport system. Although it accounts for only about 4% of the road network, it carries around 35% of traffic, including more than half of all road freight movements.

Edmund King, Executive Director of the RAC Foundation said:  "Motorists are becoming increasingly frustrated by the growing congestion on our roads, and the economy is suffering as a result, with congestion costing the country at least £15 billion a year. As a result the RAC Foundation have identified a list of urgently needed improvements to the strategic road network, which at a cost of around £2bn a year over 10 years could all be paid for out of one year’s motoring taxation .

"Roads carry 64% of all freight and 92% of passenger traffic. We would urge government not to prop up the railways with extra expenditure from the roads budget when presenting its comprehensive spending review in the summer.

"Road users currently pay £44 billion in taxes per year, of which less than £6 billion is spent on roads. We claim to be the fourth largest economy in the world, and yet we have one of the worst congestion records in Europe. Isn’t it time for a fairer deal for motorists?

The campaign is supported by

• The RAC Foundation
• The AA Motoring Trust
• The British Chambers of Commerce
• The Confederation of British Industry
• The Freight Transport Association
• The Road Haulage Association

[pdV6]

Great stuff. Just need to sort out the MLOC members for it to actually work, though.

[Dan]

Why not concentrate on getting people to use all three lanes we do have instead of sitting in lane 2 and 3?

All it would take would be a few keep left unless overtaking signs and a couple of well publicised occasions when plod pull people over for sitting in lane 2

[pdV6]

MLOC = Middle Lane Owner's Club

[Mr Whippy]

Four lanes would be good, just as long as trucks have no access to lanes 3 and 4. Otherwise we'll get a truck overtaking a truck thinking it's faster than a truck that is overtaking another truck in the inside lane. Thats what causes most of the hold-up on my journeys!

I think flashing the car infront is a good idea if they are in the way. Don't be shy, they'll either speed up (good), or pull over (good). Is that legal?

Still, when you get to the end of the stretch of motorway your buggered anyway since you all get crammed down a little slip road.

Seya

Dave

[Davel]

And whilst they're at it, let's come up with a more realistic NSL.

[jhorsnel]

Have two wide left lanes for everybody inc trucks coaches etc. Plus one or two narrower lanes (A/M roads respectively) for narrower vehicles (like BMW's.... all mine!!!! YES!!! )

While we're about it, how about another lane between off/on slip roads? Wouldn't need to rebuild bridges to cope with that.

[suggs]

pdV6 said:

Great stuff. Just need to sort out the MLOC members for it to actually work, though.

Imagine their horror! No middle lane

[pdV6]

suggs said:

pdV6 said: Great stuff. Just need to sort out the MLOC members for it to actually work, though. Imagine their horror! No middle lane

You ever driven on the M25? Its chaos when they let 'em out...

[kevinday]

This is a goood idea, however, can you imagine the current anti-motorist government doing more than through this straight in the bin?

[cortinaman]

pdV6 said:

suggs said: pdV6 said: Great stuff. Just need to sort out the MLOC members for it to actually work, though. Imagine their horror! No middle lane You ever driven on the M25? Its chaos when they let 'em out...

yeah,they mostly seem to be driving brg rover 216's too!

[Melv]

Dan said:

Why not concentrate on getting people to use all three lanes we do have instead of sitting in lane 2 and 3? All it would take would be a few keep left unless overtaking signs and a couple of well publicised occasions when plod pull people over for sitting in lane 2

Too bloody right -with you all the way there Dan. On a four lane m-way, ppl don't know what to do with lane 1!! So I use it as my own personal lane.

Bored coming back from Bimingham on the M40 a few weeks ago, I started 'scoring' 12-6-2, 6-2-0, 8-6-1, 6-2-0. What is it? The ratio of vehicles, lane 3-lane 2-lane 1 -nuff said......

Education...a reminder on the gantry signs wouldn't go amiss....

Mel

[softtop]

The mentality of the three lane motorway moves with them to a four lane. The answer is to confine lorries to the first two and open season on all four for cars. Adopting this mentality on all roads would speed up the roads for all of us not in the MLOC.