Speed limit rise on M42

* Hard shoulder running now 60mph * Rises from 50mph after trial * More schemes to follow...

Speed limit rise on M42

The speed limit will be raised on the hard shoulder of the M42 near Birmingham.

As part of the Government-backed 'active traffic management' scheme, motorists have used the hard shoulder during peak times to help congestion and decrease journey times between junctions 3A and 7 of the motorway.

The speed limit during hard-shoulder running had been restricted to 50mph, but from tomorrow (Friday, 16th October) it will be raised to 60mph, following a successful trial earlier this year.

Other hard-shoulder-running schemes exist on the M6 between junctions 4 and 5, and preparations for another will start next spring between junctions 8 and 10A.