Variable limits stay on M25
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by Lee Kimber • Enforceable variable speed limits are to remain in place on the busiest sections of the M25 after Surrey Police produced evidence that they cut accidents by 27%.
The Highways Agency is also to extend the year-old scheme to congestion blackspots around Manchester and introduce a lower 40mph limit. The scheme cut the annual accident rate from 649 in 1994/95 to 469 in 1995/96.
But the Highways Agency wants to gather more evidence about how well the system works before recommending an action plan to transport ministers. Although there are fewer accidents and 15% greater use of the slow lane, the Highways Agency cannot verify whether the scheme increases road capacity.
The test scheme in place on the Surrey section of the M25 is complicated—the speed limit is raised to get traffic moving and lowered when conditions are dangerous. Surrey Police kept no separate statis tics for CV accidents but say the system speeds traffic flow—and therefore cuts haulage costs—by reducing the "shockwave effect". That is where a speeding driver slows and his brake lights send a wave of flashing brakelights through following traffic that brings cars to a full stop up to two miles behind.