Census to help extend M6 hard shoulder scheme

Scores of drivers were stopped by Highways Agency workers carrying out a census as they came off the M6 in Staffordshire as bosses look at extending a scheme to open up the hard shoulder.

Motorists were pulled over at junction 14, Stafford north, yesterday, and guided into a coned off area set up for 12 hours from 7am. Drivers were told a survey on behalf of the

Highways Agency was collecting information about drivers' journeys to be used to plan future transport plans.

They include extending the hard shoulder scheme north of junction 10A at the M54.

Type of vehicle and reason for travel were recorded, as well as whether motorists had any intention of using the M6 Toll.

Simon Hardy, a supervisor overseeing the census, said: "We are just finding out about people's journeys, where they have been coming from, where they are going.

"We're here between 7am and 7pm and we look at samples by the hour and see what variations there are in people's journeys."

Prior to answering any questions motorists were shown a letter that stated: "The Highways Agency is conducting surveys in to the travel patterns of people along the M6 corridor. This information will be used in developing a transport model, which will be used to plan future transport provision in the area."

Roadside interviews, traffic counts and journey time surveys are being carried out as part of the study, the letter added.

Philip Guy, aged 41, from Stafford, was one of the drivers asked to pull over and talk about his journey on his way to Stoke-on-Trent to meet a friend for lunch.

He said: "They just asked me to pull over and asked if I minded asking questions about my journey, where I have come from, where I am going, that kind of thing – I didn't have to give any personal details, so it's fine."