M1 Motorway Will Save Urn. in 1960
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I T is estimated that the M1 will save up to £3m. during 1960. The capital cost of the motorway, including allowances for interest during construction, was slightly over £23m. The expected saving, therefore, represents a return of 10-15 per cent.
These facts were published on Monday in"Road Research, 1958" (Stationery Office, 5s. 6d.), the annual report of the Road Research Board.
in addition to these monetary benefits, it is probable that there will be substantial reductions in human suffering and sense of loss owing to fewer accidents. It is estimated that about 25 fatal accidents. 170 serious and 425 slight casualties may be saved by the motorway in 1960". states the report.
The causes, effects and prevention of skidding are extensively dealt with. Older drivers are less prone to skid than young. The skidding rate on wet roads is lower for women drivers—except for those under 30—than men, Reduction in proneness tb skidding according to age was most marked among goods-vehicle drivers.
A study of the properties of rubbers which showed high hysteresis-energy losses when deformed indicated the possibility of producing tyres with better skidresistance properties on wet roads.
The Board draw attention to the acute shortage of traffic engineers qualified to assist in planning the roads programme. They commend the extension of postgraduate schools in highway engineering at universities, and advise that these and other tutorial activities should be widened.
It was .important that instruction in traffic engineering should also be obtainable by engineers already in the service
of highway authorities, and unable to be spared for full-length courses.
"We regard the advice and instruction given in traffic engineering as complementary to research. it is an important service to the country and we have recommended that these activities should be expanded," say the Board.
The installation of linked fixed-time traffic signals on the A4 in Slough had resulted in an increase in average traffic delay of 55 seconds. There were, however, 21 fewer serious casualties in 18 months, and 14 fewer slight casualties.