Speed limits could be raised to 60mph through roadworks as Highways England tries to combat congestion and reduce the impact of repairs.



The government-owned company, which has been testing different speed limits since September 2016, found motorists’ heart rates were lower when driving faster through roadworks.

Jim O’Sullivan, the chief executive of Highways England, told the Times newspaper that the 60mph limit was “something that we want to introduce to as many roadworks as possible”. But lower speeds were likely to be maintained in areas with narrow lanes, contraflows or where working was taking place close to the road.

O’Sullivan said: “The volume of roadworks that the network and our users can cope with is probably reaching its peak. If we’re going to have this volume of roadworks, we need to have some serious thought about how we improve the customer experience.”

Highways England said it is considering rolling out a 55mph or 60mph limit where it is safe to do so.

More than 36 participants took part in each trial and were provided with dashcams and watches incorporating heart-rate monitors and GPS trackers to measure their reactions.

The tests took place at 60mph on the M5 between junction 4a (Bromsgrove) to 6 (Worcester) and at 55mph on the M3 in Surrey between junction 3 and 4a.

According to Highways England 60% of participants recorded a decrease in average heart rate in the 60mph trial zone and 56% presented a decrease on the 55mph trial.

Trials have also been undertaken on the M1 near Sheffield between junctions 32 and 35a and the A1 Leeming to Barton scheme.

Highways England said further trials were expected to take place later this year and, depending on the results, it was likely the higher limits could be introduced more widely in 2018.