The Government's independent adviser on sustainable development, the Sustainable Development Commission (SDC), has recommended that average speed cameras be installed on all the country's motorways in an effort to cut CO2 emissions.
The proposal, laid out as part of the Commission's report on "How Information Communications Technology can promote Sustainable Mobility", predicts that an enforced 70mph speed limit would result in a reduction of 1.4 million tonnes of carbon dioxide produced each year.
In order to enforce the limit, the Commission recommends the installation of average speed cameras that measure speed over long distances. The increasingly-popular method is said to be favourable to traditional fixed-point cameras, with the SDC suggesting they prevent drivers from slowing down briefly to avoid detection, and consequently prevent sudden braking and quick acceleration - both of which deter from smooth, environmentally-friendly driving, the Commission says.
According to the report, Department for Transportation figures show that 52 per cent of the country's drivers currently exceed the motorway speed limit of 70mph. Although describing average speed cameras as "controversial", the SDC claims that they are proven to lower speeds, accidents, deaths and injuries.
The recommendation for more average speed cameras comes just days after London Major Boris Johnson announced plans to introduce them to a stretch of the A13 in East London. The Government also looks set to approve a new generation of average speed cameras that measure the speed of a car across a network of urban streets. Such cameras are expected to be installed in residential areas with 20mph limits.
In addition to its call for average speed cameras on all of the country's motorways, the SDC has issued the following Government recommendations as part of its report:
- Accelerate actions to enable the widespread introduction of voluntary Intelligent Speed Adaptation technology, setting out a clear timetable for implementation of the recommendations made in the joint Commission for Integrated Transport / Motorists’ Forum report.
- Consider further trials of Intelligent Speed Adaptation, fitting units to ministerial and other Government Car and Despatch Agency vehicles. If successful the technology should be rolled out to all government, public sector and public transport operator’s vehicles.
- The Department for Transport monitor and report on the level of public awareness of the benefits of eco-driving and further raise awareness through the “Act on CO2” campaign.
- All public sector employees who drive a vehicle as part of their job to be given eco-driver training.
Back in 2008, a HEXUS survey revealed that nearly 75 per cent of readers believe the 70mph national speed limit - first introduced in 1965 - should be raised.
