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Car share lane
The first motorway car share lane is now open. The route in West Yorkshire can be used by cars, vans and taxis containing more than one occupant. Motorcycles, buses and coaches are also permitted in it, but heavy goods vehicles are banned.
The lane is located on a busy 1.7-mile stretch linking the southbound M606 from Bradford with the eastbound M62 towards Leeds. It cost £5.3million to build and has was opened by Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly this week. As well as reducing peak-time journeys by eight minutes for cars with more than occupant, it should cut emissions and boost economy.
Yet this won't be the only route targeted. Kelly said: "We've identified around 500 miles of motorway as potential sites for traffic management measures." The Highways Agency has already raised the hard shoulder speed limit on the M42 in a bid to ease congestion. The southbound stretch between junctions 4 and 3A in the West Midlands is now limited to 60mph - up from 50mph - when used as a running lane. Break-down firm Green Flag claims this will com-promise stranded vehicle safety.
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