Speed limit could be raised to 80mph as 'smart motorways' rolled out
THE SPEED limit on British motorways could be raised to 80mph, the Transport Secretary has suggested.
Patrick McLoughlin said that some of the country's busiest roads could see the new rules introduced as "smart motorways" are rolled out around Britain.
He told The Times: "We will look at [80mph limits] in a couple of a years' time when there's more smart motorways.
"Once we get smart motorways up and running and we get the free-flow through, and we get better running on motorways, I think that it is something that's there."
These new motorways allow drivers to use the hard shoulder as an extra lane at peak times and employ variable speed limits.
Mr McLoughlin praised the new roads for improving safety standards.
"Smart motorways" are set to double in length to cover nearly a fifth of the English motorway system.
Almost two years ago, claims were made that an 80mph speed limit was "not going to happen" under Mr McLoughlin.
In 2013 he told The Times that raising the speed limit was "not a priority".
The idea was first announced by then-Transport Secretary Philip Hammond in 2011.
Road safety and environment charities have spoken out against the proposal, claiming they would cause more deaths and higher carbon emissions.
