A 34 mile section of the M1 will be operating at a reduced speed limit in order to reduce emissions, if current plans are to go ahead. Concerns are that other motorway sections will also be targeted and will face a drop in 2015. The Highways Agency has offered that Junction 28 at Matlock in Derbyshire and Junction 35a for Sheffield, South Yorkshire, would see a 60mph limit between 7am and 7pm, seven days a week. A consultation on the proposed speed reduction will run until March 3.
The government did initially consider a blanket increase of 80 miles per hour for all major motorways in the UK. This was shelved however (rumour has it due to concerns over this upsetting a certain active voting population). There’s no doubt that a speed reduction will see emissions levels fall – however all modern cars are more efficient than their counterparts even from 10 years ago. So, the reduction should already be offset from this. Most residential areas are set reasonably back from motorways. All this isn’t even considering the negative impact on industry.
What gets my vote? Very simple. Plant more trees! Joking aside, trees pump out oxygen, take in CO2 and will help in reducing harmful emissions, thus increasing air quality for all.
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