Eight motorways in England have speed limit slashed to 50mph

“But we did argue, from the start, that they shouldn’t open without the adequate number of areas anyway,” Mr King said.

Mr King previously said that the smart motorway scheme was the “most serious [road policy] mistake” he had witnessed in his time. He said: “In some places it doesn’t feel like there is a national speed limit [70mph] anymore. There is so much chopping and changing of the limit.

Drivers can’t use their cruise control because it changes so often and what you find is people concentrating on their speedo, rather than the road ahead.” Duncan Smith, executive director of operations at National Highways, said: “Safety is our number one priority and these improvements will help keep more road users safer for the long term. While this essential work is under way, temporary speed limits are in place for the safety of our workers and road users.

“These will be removed when the work is completed next spring.” Bob Pishue, a transportation analyst at Inrix, said: “Drivers should expect long queues on major roads when heading to and from their destinations during this summer getaway.

“Being flexible with your route, whether it’s the time you leave or a journey that’s longer in miles with fewer delays, could also reduce the stress of being held up and make for a more enjoyable trip.”

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