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The somewhat mysterious arm of central government known as the Highways Agency has recently appointed a new traffic director for motorways and trunk roads. His name is Derek Turner, and he introduced London's red route and congestion charging schemes. From what I can gather, he's hardly a friend of the car driver. The official word from his new employer is that he will lead the Agency's work into a new era of traffic management. What does that entail exactly?

By Mike Rutherford

22nd March 2005

According to one highly respected national newspaper it means, among other things, that the new man "wants cars off motorways". I've already requested an interview with Mr Turner, and when he finds the time to see me I'll give him the chance to confirm or deny he plans to remove private family vehicles from the largest, fastest and safest roads we have at our disposal. In the meantime, I've only got what he said to the paper to go on. It's alleged our new traffic director has "denounced" drivers who take up space on motorways, and claimed the routes should be the preserve of vehicles such as lorries. He controversially argues trucks are of more economic importance.

Turner is quoted as saying: "A lot of the problem is to do with people joining the motorway at one junction and coming off at the next. If they can't get on to the network so easily they will probably choose to use totally acceptable trunk roads."

It gets worse. He's also allegedly accused car-driving commuters of "inappropriate use of road space". This is worrying stuff. Every one of the above arguments can be ripped to shreds. Why, for instance, would anybody in their right mind want to take cars off the safest, most efficient, generally free-flowing, pedestrian and cycle-free motorways and divert them on to more dangerous, narrower, generally clogged neighbouring roads where vulnerable walkers and bike riders are present?

Why should a lorry (especially one belonging to an overseas operator not paying UK road levies) have priority over a commuter who has bought, taxed and insured their own car? If and when Turner somehow manages to stop some drivers joining motorways, what are they supposed to do if there aren't any acceptable trunk roads to use as an alternative? Presumably, they'll have to go through built-up areas where they might be hit with the very congestion charges Derek Turner supports.

Perhaps he might be better looking at yet another classic example of roads mismanagement. We have two football clubs - Manchester United and Newcastle United - from the north west and north east of England respectively, being forced to play a cup tie in south Wales. Thousands of loyal fans will waste countless hours plus huge quantities of fuel and money getting to the game. Why the footballing authorities didn't choose a more local neutral venue such as Elland Road, Leeds, to cut down massively on journey times, cost, pollution and accident risk is utterly beyond me.

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