Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the potential effectiveness of reducing noise emissions from motorways by reducing speed limits; and if he will make a statement.

Noise is a Key Performance Indicator for Highways England. They are working to reduce people’s exposure to road noise by considering measures such as barriers, road resurfacing and insulation at locations with the highest noise levels and delivering these through major projects, maintenance work and their designated environment fund. Reducing speed limits is not one of the measures.

While reducing speed limits on motorways can reduce noise for those nearby, it can also have unintended consequences. Some traffic may be diverted to less suitable roads in more built-up areas, where loud noise could be experienced by more people. Even at lower speeds, noise effects can be greater off the motorway network, as roads tend to be closer to homes.

Highways England’s approach reduces the noise which people experience near some of the busiest motorways while retaining existing speed limits on these important arterial routes, speed limits that reflect drivers’ experience and expectations for longer-distance journeys.