IN BRIEF
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II Motorway traffic rose 13% last year over 1986 and vehicles are travelling 72% further on motorways than a decade ago, according to the latest Department of Transport statistics. There was a 4% increase in rigid lorry traffic, a 10% increase in articulated lorry traffic — and a 28% increase in trucks with five or more axles. Light van traffic rose by 7% and PSV traffic by 10%.
• One of the last remaining National Bus Company subsidiaries, Kentish Bus, was sold this week to a management team from Northumbria Motor Services, who bought that company from NBC in October. Another subsidiary, North Western of Bootle, was expected to be bought by the Drawlane Group of Salisbury later in the week: this would leave only seven NBC companies still to be sold.
• Speed detectors are being used for the first time in the UK to spot drivers breaking a 50mph (80kmph) speed limit on a notorious 5km stretch of roadworks on the M6 and M61 near Preston. Mandatory speed restrictions have already been imposed at the contrafiow, but police say that most drivers are breaking them.
• The Restrictive Practices Court has begun an investigation into allegations that Irish Sea ferry prices are being fixed. A number of companies are said to be involved in agreements covering passenger, freight and vehicle sailings on ferry routes between Britain and Northern Ireland.
• P&O Ferries has sacked 2,300 Dover-based seamen after talks aimed at ending the five-week dispute collapsed on Monday.