Motorway speed limits reduced. (1 Viewer)

[Sandancers]

From BBC news;


The speed limit will be cut on parts of four motorways before October in a trial to reduce pollution, Highways England has said.

It will be reduced from 70mph to 60mph in areas that have seen higher than recommended levels of nitrogen dioxide.

The trial will take place on stretches of nearly five miles.

It will be on M6 junctions 6 to 7 by Witton, M1 junctions 33 to 34 by Rotherham, M602 junctions 1 to 3 by Eccles and M5 1 to 2 by Oldbury.

Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) released from car exhausts is a serious air pollutant and indirectly contributes to the warming of the planet.

The impact of the new 60mph limit will be reviewed in a year's time

Ivan Le Fevre, head of environment at Highways England said: "Ultimately the air quality challenge will be solved 'at the tailpipe' by vehicle manufacturers and changes in vehicle use.

"Until this happens we will continue our extensive programme of pioneering research and solutions."

The Department for Transport said the trial was among a number of measures to improve air quality.

As part of a plan to bring down NO2 levels, the government aims to end the sale of all new conventional petrol and diesel cars and vans before 2040.

It has been consulting on bringing this forward to 2035, or earlier if a faster transition appears feasible, as well as looking at including hybrids for the first time.

The consultation's outcome will be announced at a later date.


Now the above is probably not going to affect the majority of people driving Motorhomes, but imagine you've just bought an EV or Hybrid then get told you can't do more than 60 mph to reduce pollution !

Or maybe there is more to it then at first glance, perhaps there will be a way "found" to let non fossil fuel vehicles go faster, hence more people buy them and maybe imported EVs have a large tariff put on them ? Therefore Nissan or others have to build EVs in the UK to supply the demand ? Or maybe I am assigning to much intelligence to the Gov ?

 

[movan]

From BBC news;


The speed limit will be cut on parts of four motorways before October in a trial to reduce pollution, Highways England has said.

It will be reduced from 70mph to 60mph in areas that have seen higher than recommended levels of nitrogen dioxide.

The trial will take place on stretches of nearly five miles.

It will be on M6 junctions 6 to 7 by Witton, M1 junctions 33 to 34 by Rotherham, M602 junctions 1 to 3 by Eccles and M5 1 to 2 by Oldbury.

Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) released from car exhausts is a serious air pollutant and indirectly contributes to the warming of the planet.

The impact of the new 60mph limit will be reviewed in a year's time

Ivan Le Fevre, head of environment at Highways England said: "Ultimately the air quality challenge will be solved 'at the tailpipe' by vehicle manufacturers and changes in vehicle use.

"Until this happens we will continue our extensive programme of pioneering research and solutions."

The Department for Transport said the trial was among a number of measures to improve air quality.

As part of a plan to bring down NO2 levels, the government aims to end the sale of all new conventional petrol and diesel cars and vans before 2040.

It has been consulting on bringing this forward to 2035, or earlier if a faster transition appears feasible, as well as looking at including hybrids for the first time.

The consultation's outcome will be announced at a later date.


Now the above is probably not going to affect the majority of people driving Motorhomes, but imagine you've just bought an EV or Hybrid then get told you can't do more than 60 mph to reduce pollution !

Or maybe there is more to it then at first glance, perhaps there will be a way "found" to let non fossil fuel vehicles go faster, hence more people buy them and maybe imported EVs have a large tariff put on them ? Therefore Nissan or others have to build EVs in the UK to supply the demand ? Or maybe I am assigning to much intelligence to the Gov ?

Personally, although it may be a pain that long journeys will become even longer, I'm pleased that something is being done to combat pollution and we are 'sort of' setting an example.. after yesterday watching the latest programme on pollution and what has now started happening to our Planet. Lset's hope other Governments and big companies start to listen.. Quickly.

 

[chatteris]

With a lot of cars being high geared they are probably less efficient at 60 than they are at 70 my smax would only be doing 2000 revs so very little boost would make emissions worse surely

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[Portland]

Why not set it @45mph then I can keep up, if I try hard

 

[ivorantony]

Perfect for me I cruise at 62 mph at 2200 rpm bang in the middle of my maximum torque in six gear
So nothing changes,

 

[Richard n Ann]

Why don't we all stay in bed

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[tribalbrit]

Just another way of catching and fining drivers for speeding. IMO.

 

[Monty don]

Complete joke will make no significant decrease in emissions
This is what the smart motorway network is all about
Speed control but nothing to do with safty

Although who does more than 60 in their motorhome on the motorway anyway?

Starting to see to many dick heads going far to fast in motorhomes and caravans

Have you tried changing direction or emergency stopping in either a mh or towing a caravan

Some people will learn the hard way

GB

 

[Gromett]

Seen a lot of people grumbling on Social media about this and they all seem to be missing the point.

This is a trial for one year on 4 stretches of motorway that are around 5 mile long each. These stretches breach EU and UK laws on NO2 levels.

This experiment will aim to find out if reducing the speed limit in these zones can bring the NO2 levels within legal limits.

As I understand it, this is not the thin end of the wedge to reducing the speed limit across the entire network. If NO2 levels don't drop in this experiment then it will simply not be renewed at the end of the first year. If it does drop the levels significantly then it "may" be rolled out to other zones where NO2 levels are breached but still not across the entire network.

To me it seems a very sensible experiment to find out what if any effect speed has on NO2 levels.

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[dunnah01]

If you can get to 60mph on those stretches of motorway you'll be lucky

 

[Gromett]

Complete joke will make no significant decrease in emissions

What experiment or calculations did you do that allowed you to come to the conclusion that it would lead to no significant reduction in emissions?

This is what the smart motorway network is all about

Erm? No, the smart motorway network was about reducing congestion and increasing capacity. NO2 emissions were never part of the debate leading up to them as far as I am aware.

 

[Gromett]

Complete joke will make no significant decrease in emissions

You made me go look to see what previous research had been carried out on this subject.

In 2011, the European Environment Agency (EEA) published a report on the subject.

This study documented a detailed simulation into the effects of dropping motorway speed limits from 120 to 110km/h (74.5 to 68.4mph) for Euro 4-compliant petrol and diesel cars with engines between 1.4 and 2.0 litres in capacity.

With smooth driving and complete compliance with speed limits, the diesel car exhibited a 12% reduction in fuel use and the petrol car an 18% reduction. This is because there is less wind resistance, so the car needs less relative power to propel itself. However, in more realistic driving, including some periods of speeding, this came down to a mere 2% and 3% respectively.

There was also a reduction in nearly all pollutant emissions, and especially NOx and particulate matter (PM) for the diesel – NOx by more than 20%, PM by around 10%.

Do lower speed limits on motorways reduce fuel consumption and pollutant emissions?

Introducing lower speed limits on motorways is expected to cut both fuel consumption and pollutant emissions. The exact benefit depends on a number of factors, however, including both technological effects such as the fall in energy consumed when decreasing speed, and non-technological factors...

www.eea.europa.eu

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[Monty don]

Im not saying the smart network is about controlling emissions

But it is there to control speed and if you believe that was just for capacity your in dream land

 

[Marmite]

Problem with pollution is that we still encourage "third world" countries to use fossil fuels for everything. They are cheap, so it keeps their costs down, and we then buy from them as the goods are cheaper.

Would be better in the long run if we applied an environmental tax on incoming goods wherever they are from based on the source countries green power status. This would help level up the cost base with UK industry. After all, China and India, two of the largest overseas suppliers are still building coal power plants, and they are not exactly third world. They both have active space programs, something we don't even have.

We aren't going to fix this on our own as it's a global issue, but every little helps, and thus I think this initiative is right..Di a trial, gather the data and look at the impact.

 

[nicholsong]

Why don't we all stay in bed

To misquote Mr. Tebbit "On your bike!"

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[DavidG58]

we live next to the M1 smart motorway through Notts / Derbys and Sth Yorks, when first opened they routinely set speed control at 50mph for virtually the whole length (40 + miles) stating on the overhead gantrys it was due to pollution, odd that it always came on bang on 7 and off at 9

the section nearest to us is so short it will make no difference, oddly going north it is all down hill, so very little pollution anyway

another not joined up set of thinking

 

[RandallC]

Anyone familiar with the M4 around the Brynglas tunnels will have already seen the speeds reduced to 50mph for pollution control. (That's west of J24)

 

[PeteH]

Well that should boost the government coffers. and help offset the damage to the uk economy by the Chinese with thier virus. All those lovely fines, I can already see the chancellor rubbing his hands like a Shylock and wondering what pie in the sky scheme they can invent to use up all the money. The second white elephant railway.?
D

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[Richard n Ann]

. If NO2 levels don't drop in this experiment then it will simply not be renewed

Let's all get in 3rd gear for it then

 

[Phill D]

It's a joke... On the m4 in Wales there are already a few sections limited to 50 with signs " to reduce pollution ".
When u compare the impact of this meger reduction that it may achieve, against the number of trucks on the road, and will still travelling at their normal motorway speed together with the fact that these zones are in areas where air pollution from local industries is so bad that even if there was no traffic it would make little difference.

 

[Phill D]

It's a bit like the drive for electric cars, while I think it's the way forward, what about the 100s of 1000s of trucks burning diesel.
Then there is the mining of the minerals for the batteries and their disposal when they are spent.

All well intentioned but is it fully thought through

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[Gromett]

Im not saying the smart network is about controlling emissions

But it is there to control speed and if you believe that was just for capacity your in dream land

It is about increasing capacity. That was the big point of it. A whole extra lane rather than upgrading the entire road just open the hard shoulder. It was about money. It was cheaper to do the so called smart motorways than upgrading them.

The variable speed limits are a secondary issue brought in to address safety.

If it was all about controlling speed as you suggest then they didn't need to open the hard shoulder to install speed cameras.

 

[Gromett]

PS: I think smart motorways were a bloody stupid idea and still do.

 

[Odd job]

My opinion is that it is too late. Everyone is talking about climate change, but there is no effort to really make a difference. So the human race is probably going to end. When? That is the question? Unless there is a significant invention that brings clean energy I doubt we have 100 years.

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[maison]

You made me go look to see what previous research had been carried out on this subject.



With smooth driving and complete compliance with speed limits, the diesel car exhibited a 12% reduction in fuel use and the petrol car an 18% reduction. This is because there is less wind resistance, so the car needs less relative power to propel itself. However, in more realistic driving, including some periods of speeding, this came down to a mere 2% and 3% respectively.

There was also a reduction in nearly all pollutant emissions, and especially NOx and particulate matter (PM) for the diesel – NOx by more than 20%, PM by around 10%.

Do lower speed limits on motorways reduce fuel consumption and pollutant emissions?

Introducing lower speed limits on motorways is expected to cut both fuel consumption and pollutant emissions. The exact benefit depends on a number of factors, however, including both technological effects such as the fall in energy consumed when decreasing speed, and non-technological factors...

www.eea.europa.eu

The problem with the study is highlighted in red.

These stretches of motorway tend to be in areas where such driving, at times of highest pollution, is virtually impossible. Slowing for congestion then accelerating before having to slow down again is the norm. Such a driving style increases pollution.

I am not against any measures that improve our environment but expecting such an improvement, obtained from an unrealistic assumption of driving style, is not an impressive argument by the “experts”.

 

[The Coops]

Drop the speed by 10 mph, increase the capacity of the road by 20% only saying what a friend told me!

 

[busby]

From BBC news;


The speed limit will be cut on parts of four motorways before October in a trial to reduce pollution, Highways England has said.

It will be reduced from 70mph to 60mph in areas that have seen higher than recommended levels of nitrogen dioxide.

The trial will take place on stretches of nearly five miles.

It will be on M6 junctions 6 to 7 by Witton, M1 junctions 33 to 34 by Rotherham, M602 junctions 1 to 3 by Eccles and M5 1 to 2 by Oldbury.

Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) released from car exhausts is a serious air pollutant and indirectly contributes to the warming of the planet.

The impact of the new 60mph limit will be reviewed in a year's time

Ivan Le Fevre, head of environment at Highways England said: "Ultimately the air quality challenge will be solved 'at the tailpipe' by vehicle manufacturers and changes in vehicle use.

"Until this happens we will continue our extensive programme of pioneering research and solutions."

The Department for Transport said the trial was among a number of measures to improve air quality.

As part of a plan to bring down NO2 levels, the government aims to end the sale of all new conventional petrol and diesel cars and vans before 2040.

It has been consulting on bringing this forward to 2035, or earlier if a faster transition appears feasible, as well as looking at including hybrids for the first time.

The consultation's outcome will be announced at a later date.


Now the above is probably not going to affect the majority of people driving Motorhomes, but imagine you've just bought an EV or Hybrid then get told you can't do more than 60 mph to reduce pollution !

Or maybe there is more to it then at first glance, perhaps there will be a way "found" to let non fossil fuel vehicles go faster, hence more people buy them and maybe imported EVs have a large tariff put on them ? Therefore Nissan or others have to build EVs in the UK to supply the demand ? Or maybe I am assigning to much intelligence to the Gov ?

Lucky if you can travel at even 60 mph at certain times of the day..BUSBY.

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[2x2camper]

So if this is such a bad idea what is the best why to control the pollution?

I assume that the funsters complaing do believe there is pollution or did the government make that up?

 

[buttons]

Surely it is diesel vehicles that are the big producers of NOx and SOx. It's the lorries and motorhomes doing the polluting. why punish the BMWs and Audi drivers for producing these green house gases .
Set the limit of these major polluters to 40mph and leave the BMWs at 70/80 and pollution will drop like a stone.

 

[gus-lopez]

This is a trial for one year on 4 stretches of motorway that are around 5 mile long each. These stretches breach EU and UK laws on NO2 levels.

This experiment will aim to find out if reducing the speed limit in these zones can bring the NO2 levels within legal limits.

As I understand it, this is not the thin end of the wedge to reducing the speed limit across the entire network. If NO2 levels don't drop in this experiment then it will simply not be renewed at the end of the first year. If it does drop the levels significantly then it "may" be rolled out to other zones where NO2 levels are breached but still not across the entire network.

To me it seems a very sensible experiment to find out what if any effect speed has on NO2 levels.

[/QUOTE]if you believe thatyou will believe anything. Unless completely independent monitoring then you can guarantee that it will,"reduce pollution "

Set the limit of these major polluters to 40mph and leave the BMWs at 70/80 and pollution will drop like a stone.

,no it will be the complete opposite due to the fact that most will be on far lower gears as cannot go that slow in top gears.

I couldn't get into 4th in mine

It is about increasing capacity. That was the big point of it. A whole extra lane rather than upgrading the entire road just open the hard shoulder. It

But it doesn't work as any one either an ounce of sense knows it is a killing lane.

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