Motorways Would Pay for Themselves
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ANEW film entitled "One Way Only" has just been produced by the British Road Federation. The film itself is good, although to our mind it seems to be more of the type that would appeal to the general public, it is not, however, specifically intended for this purpose but to be shown at more or less private gatherings of institutes, societies, etc. For this reason we would have preferred• it to have been rather more technical. However, it is the commentary which accompanies it which is of great interest and iniportance.
The commentator points out that 1,000 miles of new motorways would cost £150,000,000, improvements to London's traffic arteries would account for £100,000,000, those to existing roads in major provincial towns, new radial and ring roads, flyover crossings and roundabouts would account for £150,000,000, and roads for smaller towns and rural areas would cost £200,000,000, making a total of £600,000,000. This would represent the cost of a plan to give Britain a modern coad system, and spread over 10 years would amount to £60,000,000 a year.
It is claimed, however, that great savings would be effected as a result of such improvements and that they would be as follows:—Ten per cent. in fuel, by reducing stops arid low-gear work, representing £12,000,000; there would be less wear on tyres, accounting for £3,000,000; thecutting down of repair bills watild account for another £9,000,000 and the saving of time in vehicles, passengers and drivers would amount to £26,000,000; the reduction in accidents alone would save the community £10,000,000, in addition to much suffering. All these bring the savings to the convenient total of £60,000,000, which would continue after the improved road system had paid for itself. It must be remembered, however, that these savings are estimates, but experience has shown that they may well be on the conservative side.