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Manage demand for travel and cut congestion |
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Congestion is environmentally damaging and leads to calls for road building. Speed management has a role to play in curbing two types of traffic growth: the increasing use of cars in towns and the increasing distances travelled.
TRAVEL IN TOWNS
Cars are increasingly used for short trips of 2 miles and under. Better conditions for sustainable travellers in towns will allow transport planners to curb this growth. Speed reductions would reduce congestion by making better use of existing roadspace. Slower speeds would allow people to walk and cycle, smoothe traffic and improve conditions for public transport.
TRAVEL BETWEEN TOWNS
The distances people travel by road are increasing annually. However the time they spend travelling, on average, is not. People are travelling further because they are travelling faster. By discouraging longer journeys or encouraging transfer to rail or coach, slower speeds would help to reduce congestion on the inter-urban network. Since lane capacity is greatest at speeds under 60mph, slower speeds would also help to make more efficient of the existing inter-urban highway network.
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The Benefits