Trial of 60mph speed limits on motorways to cut pollution

The speed limit will be reduced to 60mph on four sections of motorway to bring air pollution within legal limits.

Highways England expects this trial will achieve a reduction in Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) with a corresponding improvement in air quality. NO2 is a pollutant which aggravates the airways in the human respiratory system and is said to be linked to 40,000 premature deaths a year.

The four locations where the trial will take place are the M6 junctions 6 to 7 by Witton, M1 junctions 33 to 34 by Rotherham, M602 junctions 1 to 3 by Eccles and the M5 junctions 1 to 2 by Oldbury.

The speed limits will be operational 24 hours a day and will become active before October, read more here.

Did you know: if you drive 60mph instead of 70mph, you will use up to 9% less fuel!