Half a Century of AA Service on Motorways
Bumper to Bumper
5 December is the 50th anniversary of the first stretch of motorway in the UK and according to the AA, motorways have transformed the way we travel.
On 5 December 1958, the day the 8 mile Preston bypass opened, the AA was ready to help motorists. Robert Gornall was the AA's first motorway patrol and he was on duty on the Preston by Pass (now the M6) from day one – he even attended the opening ceremony. Robert recalls that in those early motorway days, when there was no speed limit or hard shoulder, things were very different when it came to dealing with breakdowns.
Robert said: "This was entirely new and when we reached a broken down car we simply pushed it, bumper to bumper, out of the way to a place of safety where we could fix it – our vehicles were fitted with special rubber bumpers so as not to cause any damage. And breakdowns came thick and fast because cars just couldn't cope with the higher speed – engines just simply blew. The vehicles we used were Ford Escorts and even a soft top Land Rover."
AA President Edmund King said: "1958 really was the start of the motorway age of motoring. Britain's every growing band of motorists increasingly found they were able to stretch the boundaries of work and leisure when unthinkable journeys of the past gradually became the norm.
"Perhaps we should now be asking ourselves about the next 50 years – are we going to continue to invest in our motorways to build on their success, or do we want traffic to return to those places that the motorways by-passed? Will motorways become high tech with electronic control of cars to maintain their distance or USA style multi-lane freeways?
Motorway facts
The AA, the UK's largest motoring organisation, was already 68 years old when Britain's first motorway opened in 1958. That milestone however was probably the most significant event for Britain's growing population of private motorists.
| 1958 | Today |
| 4.5 million cars | 28 million cars | 5970 people killed in road accidents | 2946 people killed in road accidents |
| 191,146 miles of road | 246,000 miles of road including 2,200 miles of motorway |
| £500 million paid in motoring taxes | £45 billion paid in motoring taxes |
| 100+ motorway breakdowns dealt with by the AA | 175,000 motorway breakdowns dealt with by the AA |
Motorway music
There have even been songs written about motorways, indeed three of the top ten tunes to drive to on the AA Zone are inspired by motorways.
Road to Hell – Chris Rea (thought to be about the M25)
2468 Motorway – Tom Robinson Band
Autobahn – Kraftwerk
Ten key dates in the history of British motorways
1946
The first map was published showing a projected English motorway system in a form that can be compared to today's reality. The M1, M4 M5 M6 M62 and M18 are all there, along with a circle that would eventually represent the M25.
December 1958
The opening of the Preston bypass – both the first stretch of motorway in Britain, and the first 8.3 miles of the M6.
Although modified over the years into a 4 lane motorway, originally it looked little like a modern motorway – it had turf shoulders, no crash barrier, and by today's standards, little traffic.
November 1959
The opening of the M1, then looked upon as the London-to-Birmingham Motorway.
Its 61.5 miles symbolised the start of the motorway age. Although widened, much of this motorway, complete with its 1950s bridges is still in use.
December 1965
The introduction of the 70mph speed limit on an experimental basis, replacing a truly derestricted road.
The limit was made permanent in 1967 and led to a 20 per cent reduction in casualties on the growing motorway network.
October 1986
The M25 was completed and officially opened.
The first pieces of the London Orbital Motorway were completed in September 1975 and the whole ring was formally opened in October 1986.
Prior to the M25 there had been many plans for motorway "boxes" around London.
January 1991
The M40 was opened, marking the completion of the last major link of the English motorway system.
May 1995
The variable speed limit on the M25 was introduced allowing speed limits to be automatically adjusted to match traffic flows. This helped significantly to increase the traffic capacity of the road and reduced holdups on what had become known as the world's largest car park.
October 2000
The completion of the M60 made Manchester Britain's third city to be encircled by motorways.
December 2003
The M6 Toll – Britain's first tolled motorway is opened, relieving congestion on the M6 to the north east of Birmingham.
The M6 remained open as an alternative.
September 2006
A long series of modifications to the M42 was completed with automated traffic control not only allowing variable speed limits but also allowing hard shoulder running in peak times – two measures which reduce peak hour congestion, and are likely to spread to the rest of the network.
Where the AA sees the future of motorways
Capacity
The Government has committed to a 6 year £6bn investment programme to improve strategic roads.
However, it's not all good news. Some new capacity on motorways will be achieved by using the hard shoulder at busy times, and also perhaps by introducing 'pay lanes'. AA members through the AA/Populus Panel tell us that:
- 50% support hard shoulder running at busy times
- 32% oppose (and of those 17% strongly oppose)
- 53% oppose new pay lanes (33% strongly oppose)
- 58% oppose paying a toll to use a car share lane when alone (38% strongly oppose)
The AA says that motorway widening would represent good value for money by reducing congestion and may be more 'sustainable' than temporary fixes like using the hard shoulder.
There should be no need for major new motorways across green fields as Britain's motorway needs were accurately defined and largely addressed over a 50 year period.
Roadworks
Britain's motorway road works rate highly in terms of their safety and conduct compared with many other European countries. However, delays still frustrate drivers and whilst safety is achieved by having strict speed limits the AA says these should be variable so that the limit matches the conditions at any given time. It's ludicrous for example to have a 50mph limit when the workers have gone home.
Incidents
The Government has set journey time reliability targets for the worst performing strategic roads.
In 2008 however the Highways Agency failed to meet the target, meaning that journey time reliability got worse on two thirds of the routes under scrutiny.
The AA believes that the Highways Agency must get slicker at managing the unexpected and ensure that all key sections of motorways have properly managed and signed contingency diversion routes.
Creaking junctions
So often the performance of a motorway is hindered by a weak road link or junction on a local authority road adjacent to the motorway.
Highway authorities now have a network management duty under the Traffic Management Act 2004. If a motorway is seizing up due to inadequate local roads something must be done.
Information
Variable message signs are now an intrinsic part of the UK motorway scene and they are vital tools to keep drivers informed.
The quality of information has improved but there is no room for complacency. Traffic messages must be truly real-time for drivers to keep their faith in them.
Some messages still leave drivers wondering – and whilst the AA welcomes messages being spread back much further from any incident we also point out that long distance travellers don't have local knowledge so care is needed explaining where distant incidents are so that the message can be understood by all.
Services
The UK's motorway service areas have improved standards markedly in recent years. However, prices can be high and at busy times they can be overcrowded.
The AA welcomes the government's intention to allow smaller rest area type facilities but urges caution where safety and security are concerned. It will be better to have a filling station with basic supplies and parking than an unmanned rest area which could become a haven for crime.
Safety
UK motorways are amongst the safest in Europe if not the world and they should remain so.
Some drivers are nervous about using motorways but in reality they are at far more risk driving on some of the roads they may use to avoid them.
Per mile travelled a driver on a rural road faces three times the motorway risk of a fatal accident. A driver on an urban road faces eight times the risk.
5 December 2008