'Better planning' key to controlling major road congestion

Date: 30/3/2010

The country's major road network should be used more effectively in order to reduce congestion levels, the Transport Committee has argued.

Releasing its latest report, the committee has stated that steps need to be taken to better manage congestion at bottlenecks and peak times.

Steps to promote sustainable travel through active traffic management and an integrated public transport system should be taken, the report said.

Louise Ellman, chair of the committee, said: "Congestion on our major road network costs our economy enormous sums every year. The government needs to demonstrate leadership by ensuring that a wide range of cost-effective tools are used in the fight against congestion."

She added that it is important that information provided to the travelling public is absolutely up to date, and that the public understands why any temporary speed limits on major roads are in place so that transport planning is more effectively managed.