Car-share Lanes For M-ways

First there was the M4 bus lane... now it's the M1 carriageway you can only use if you're carrying one or more passengers.

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15th December 2004

The Department for Transport is introducing a dedicated high vehicle occupancy (HVO) scheme between junctions seven at St Albans, Hertfordshire, and 10 at Luton, Bedfordshire.

Transport Secretary Alistair Darling said: "The Government is determined to tackle congestion, adding capacity where necessary and making better use of road space. HVO lanes encourage drivers to share their vehicles and have been a great success at reducing traffic in the US and Australia."

Work will start on the M1 in October 2005, and if successful the scheme will be extended up to junction 13. There are also plans for lanes on the M61 near Bolton, and the M62 in Leeds.

Meanwhile, Britain's second toll motorway - a 14-mile road which is designed to relieve traffic on the M4 - could use satellite tracking technology to collect money. It has been confirmed that the highway will open for business in 2012.