Congestion is the enemy of the planet as well as of the traveller. Cars and lorries caught in traffic jams emit twice as much carbon per mile or more than if they were able to proceed at a sensible speed. Hydrocarbon engines work best in top gear at a steady cruising speed. They work inefficiently in stop start traffic.

The UK has only half as much motorway per vehicle as France or Germany. We would need to build a lot of extra road space to harmonise with Europe in this area, adjusted for population and?? country size. This is one area where harmonisation will not be required by government!

We have no continuous dual carriageway across the south coast. We have no continuous dual carriageway to the holiday destinations of the south west along the A303. The capacity of the main haul routes to the principal ports the A12, A14 and A34?? is insufficient, and train capacity into Harwich, Felixstowe and Southampton is also restricted. There is no continuous motorway from London to Edinburgh.

The relief motorway for the M6 shows that toll highways can be built in the UK and provide useful extra capacity. Those who want to carry on using the free? roads can do so. Those who want to be sure of a shorter time for their journey can pay to drive.

The government should announce a bidding process for the private sector to come forward with other congestion busting toll routes subject to planning and environmental consideration to start to relieve the congestion and the heavy discharges of carbon and other exhaust gases that congestion produces.

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