Motorists using the M6 through Staffordshire and the West Midlands could pay up to £5 to avoid jams by using the motorway hard shoulder.
As part of a £6 billion congestion-busting package announced by the Government, drivers will be allowed to use the hard shoulder from Junction 11a near Cannock to Junction 19 at Knutsford, one of the most congested motorway routes in the country, following a successful pilot scheme on the M42, which increased traffic flow, reduced accidents and exhaust fumes.
Plans to also open up the hard shoulder on the so-called Birmingham Box of the M6, M5 and M42 will move forward this summer when the Department for Transport gives the go ahead to a contract later this summer.
Hard shoulder running involves the use of electronic signs and cameras to actively manage traffic and speed.
Ruth Kelly, Transport Secretary, confirmed ministers are now looking into the practicality of turning the extra lane on at least four motorways into dedicated toll lanes.
Other options include using the lane for car-sharing vehicles, only charging drivers who are not carrying passengers, or turning it into a crawler lane for lorries and caravans.
Although the fee for the toll lane has not been set, sources suggested it would be in the region of £5, levied during peak hours rather than round the clock.
Mrs Kelly said: “I am determined to get the best from our road network so that motorists in the West Midlands have reliable journey times on roads that are safe and well-managed.”
Simon Tulitt, divisional director for policy from South Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “The impact of congestion charging is costing UK businesses £17 billion a year.
“Opening more hard shoulders, we think, is a positive move and we know the M42 pilot has worked really well but we don’t think this can be a long term solution.”
Hard shoulder running will now be introduced on 500 miles of motorway, including the M3 and M4 coming into London.
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16 Comments
Who is going to monitor this and who is going to enforce it!
The hard shoulder is there for emergency services and breakdowns.
So when someones car sets on fire.or a lorry has a blow out where they going to go “hard shoulder”…whats going to happen…traffic congestion and accidents when people panic trying to avoid the blockage on the lane!God forbid if any one needs an ambulance…people dont move out of their way now!
The truth is that most motorists are just whingers- its a proven fact that motoring is cheaper now than ever before and how many less cars do you see even when fuel cost is high?..the answer is none- I would triple the price of petrol and road tax and invest in public transport, force is the only way to make selfish motorists give up
2. Either you don’t work or you work close to your home. I have to travel as many do, at least 20 miles to work. Public transport would take me 2 hours and is unreliable, it stinks and is covered in graffitti, tradesmen can’t carry tools on a bus, kids would suffer as nobody would be able to afford to take them out for the day, couriers/haulage firms would collapse - it just goes on and on. When I was made redundant, I had no choice but to to work 20 miles away as it was either that or I lost my home. You call yourself REALIST….try adding un before it. Can you back up your claim in figures that its a proven fact that motoring is now cheaper than ever? Please reply so everyone can see how much cheaper motoring really is - as you claim.
2 you birdbrain if everyone was to use public transport then you would never get on the busses or trains
Robbie T,
as regards motoring being cheaper in real terms now than ever before ALL the surveys show this - EVEN surveys conducted by the RAC and AA!
The truth is that many people dont need a car -they use them to drive either short distances ie to the local shop for a paper rather than walk 5 minutes or to work when there is perfectly good public transport- it is just pure snobbishness that they openly admit they wont even consider public transport, of course some people need cars - ie people living in rural areas or for those working in out of town areas but so many of the moaners are people who wont give up their cars based on selfishnesss not practical reasons- and these people have the nerve to them complain about fuel prices!- more and better public transport infrastructure is the only answer.
Realistic Wulfrunian. If all surveys show this please quote the article reference(s) from which you make such wild claims so that we poor mortals who live in our petty motoring world can look them up. Do not reitterate your statements and make a claim “ALL” quote the reference(s) accurately.
I have been on the M42 during rush hour and the current scheme is great! You only use the hard shoulder if you are getting off at the next junction. It works really well. Would be happy to see this scheme on other motorways BUT I do not think we should have to pay any more than we alreay do!
well if they charge to use this any repairs that are needed to this lane should be paid for out of the costs why should we pay twice scandalous rip off britain
another stealth tax on the motorist
Realist…….. I take it you have yet to succeed in passing your driving test?
I would like to suggest a completely radical idea.
What about we charge motorist 70 pence in the pound, as a fuel tax? Doesn’t matter they have just paid 30 pence in the pound income tax, make them pay tax again.
Then charge them £400 a year road tax?
Make them take out car insurance, and charge them a value added tax on top.
And of course when they have to visit a garage, make them pay tax on the inflated bill they have to pay.
And of course if the parking is so restricted that motorist are forced park anywhere, you could charge them parking fines.
And then there are speed cameras, now that’s just a licence to print money!!!!!
Now for the clever bit, what about we spend just a tiny little bit of all that money building roads for these suckers we call motorists?
Not too much though because Gordon wont have enough to give away to third would countries to provide them with things like mosquito nets and their educational needs.
And of course there are all the freeloaders in the EEC that need an endless supply of money, and lets not forget our own pack of freeloaders in Parliament, with their out of control expense accounts, so yes lets milk the motorist again, after all they have not been bled completely dry yet!!!!!!!
Jim of Bearwood.
People don’t bother to respond to Realist Wulfrunian, if you’re a regular visitor to this website you will notice he pops up here and makes baseless comments like this, I assume in the hope that people will respond and take notice of him, think he leads such a sad life that in real life he talks such complete and utter rubbish that no one takes any notice of him.
Jim of Bearwood.
Sorry but what happens if someone breaks down and parks on the hard shoulder (what is usually for), and what happens if an accident occurs and the police need to get through the traffic to it????? Whose idea was this - obviously not a Joe Public person!
Yes, what happens on the M42 currently when someone breaks down, has a puncture or whatever and needs to use the hard shoulder?
Having been in a few accidents I fully appreciate the speed emergency vehicles can do when whizzing past lanes of traffic. No use if there’s a solid 4 lane delay that can’t be squeezed past.
I would not pay £5 to use the hard shoulder. The M42 system works well and why should we have to pay morer while we are already so heavily taxed on petrol and road tax?For most M6 users the drive through the Birmingham box is essential, not for pleasure.At present I leave very early and so avoid the snailtrail. Implementing the £5 charge would take much of the tax paid.Look at the M6Toll, only those who can afford it,use it. I imagine with the credit crunch and increased fuel cost, this will continue to decrease unless the charges are lowered considerably. It is a lot to pay for the extra 10 minutes or so one gains, particularly when it can take several minutes to get through the toll plazas at peak times.
Jim Gull. Now there is a realist.