IN THE
NEWS...IN THE NEWS..
GOVERNMENT ACCELERATES POTHOLE MAPPING PROJECT TO SUPPORT MOTORISTS AND CYCLISTS AS SCHOOLS RETURN
A first-of-its-kind audit into the mapping of potholes in England was been launched on 28 August by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, aided by data from on-road businesses such as Uber and Deliveroo, to better target improvements so that roads are in top condi- tion as people return to work and school. The Department for Transport will work with Gaist, a highway data and mapping compa- ny, businesses such as Deliveroo, Uber, Tesco and Ocado, alongside local highway authorities to identify ‘pothole hot-spots’. Combining collated data on current pot- holes held by nation-wide businesses and the most up-to-date bank of roads imagery in the country from Gaist, the department will be able to paint the most comprehen- sive picture ever of where funding is most needed to make sure roads are not plagued by potholes. It will make roads as safe as possible as more commuters and students undertake journeys in the coming months. The plan will help cyclists and motorist get back to school and work.
The government has already committed £2.5 billion in funding for pothole repairs in the biggest nationwide programme ever announced. The launch of the review comes as new data reveals that highway maintenance works undertaken in the past months when roads were quieter during lockdown has led to 319 miles of resurfacing, making sure that roads are in better condition so that people can get back to work and school safely. Grant Shapps said: “During the lockdown we’ve resurfaced hundreds of miles of road. But now I want to go further by identifying critical potholes and ensuring these are fixed as quickly as possible. “We’re teaming up with delivery companies in order to map out where remaining pot- holes exist and then target them with our £2.5 billion pothole repair fund. “Better road surfaces benefit motorists and cyclists alike ensuring the back to school and work environment is safer for everyone.” Since 2010, the government has provided over £1.2 billion solely to help repair pot-
holes on the local highway network, includ- ing £500 million from the £2.5 billion announced in the Budget earlier this year. Safe roads have never been more important, with the government urging commuters, parents and school children to choose to cycle or walk for part or all of their com- mutes to help ease demand on public transport and travel safely as the country recovers from the pandemic. Better quality roads will also make it easier, safer and more convenient than ever for people to cycle. The government has previ- ously announced plans to deliver a cycling and walking revolution by investing £2 bil- lion over the next five years to support more people to choose active travel and through the launch of our most ambition Cycling and Walking plan ever. With potholes posing a problem to all road users’ safety, the pothole mapping review will allow for the government to ably target the worst-affected areas, levelling up road quality across the country.
60MPH MOTORWAY SPEED LIMIT COMING SOON TO TACKLE POLLUTION
Highways England is to reduce the speed limit on four sections of motorway this month in an attempt to reduce roadside emissions. Trials of a 60mph limit will assess how slow- er speeds affect pollution levels next to junctions or on routes to towns and cities. The government has identified 101 parts of England’s strategic road network that poten- tially exceed recommended NO2 levels. It’s the first time that lower limits will be introduced to tackle emissions alone and the new measures could be rolled out to more locations. A 60mph limit will be enforced for 24 hours a day on the following motorways: • M6 between junctions 6 and 7 (near Birm- ingham)
• M1 between junctions 33 and 34 (at Rotherham, South Yorkshire)
• M602 between junctions 1 and 3 (near Eccles, Greater Manchester)
• M5 between junctions 1 and 2 (at Oldbury, West Midlands)
The signposted speed limits will remain on stretches of road up to 4.5 miles long for at least 12 months with a chance of extension if air quality improves. Drivers caught breaking the new 60mph limit could face a £100 fine and three penal- ty points on their licence. Although Highways England expect a drop in NO2 levels they confirmed that if lower limits were “not having the desired impact after 12 to 15 months then we’ll remove them and look at alternative ways to tackle air quality in that area”. They say initial assessments show that a 60mph limit led to an average 17% reduction in emissions. Another four locations with poor air quality already have lower speed limits, mainly implemented because of roadworks. There
are restrictions at the M32 in Bristol; the A1 in Blaydon, Tyneside; the M4 in Harlington, London; and the M621 near Leeds. A separate plan to test pollution barriers is already in place.
RAC spokesperson Rod Dennis said: “Drivers will already be getting used to speed limits lower than 70mph on stretches of motorway that have been converted to ‘smart motorways’, so targeted speed reductions to reduce emissions in many ways makes sense - so long as doing so doesn’t lead to congestion, and therefore poorer air quality, elsewhere. “However it’s also right that all options are considered when it comes to tackling air pollution hotspots on major roads, so in time we look forward to seeing how effec- tive both lower speed limits and pollution barriers prove to be.”
T HE CL E A N E R , S A F ER WAY TO TR A V E L
For more information on TX's clean credentials, please visit
levc.com – The Electric Taxi
82 OCTOBER 2020
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112
