M42 MM Monitoring and Evaluation Three Year Safety Review

In September 2006, the Four Lane Variable Mandatory Speed Limit operational regime was introduced in both directions of the M42 Managed Motorway, (previously referred to as Active Traffic Management) scheme between junctions 3A and 7.

This report reviews the first 36 months of validated personal injury accident data during Four Lane Variable Mandatory Speed Limit operation and compares the results against Three Lane Variable Mandatory Speed Limit operation and the period prior to the implementation of Management Motorways, known as NO-Variable Speed Limits.

Overall there has been a reduction in the number of personal injury accidents and the severity of accidents during the first 36 months of Four Lane Variable Mandatory Speed Limit operation, compared to Three Lane Variable Mandatory Speed Limit and NO-Variable Speed Limits operation.

In summary, the review of the Four Lane Variable Mandatory Speed Limit operational regime in terms of road safety has revealed that the number of personal injury accidents has reduced since its introduction compared to equivalent time periods in the previous operational regimes.

Furthermore, there has been a notable reduction in the number of people being fatally or seriously injured suggesting that, when accidents do happen, vehicle occupants are more likely to be slightly injured than fatally or seriously injured.