Highways Agency

Introduction to Car Sharing Lanes

The Highways Agency is proposing to pilot car sharing lanes, also known as High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes, on its strategic network.

Car sharing lanes are dedicated lanes for use by vehicles carrying more than one person and are designed to encourage drivers to share their cars.

This innovative technique has been used extensively in other countries including the United States and some Local Authority's roads including the A647 in Leeds.

We have been investigating the potential of introducing car sharing lanes onto our network for some time, and identified a trial scheme on the M1 between St Albans and Luton (Junctions 7 to 10). However, after careful consideration it was decided that a HOV lane was not appropriate on the 6a to 10 section of the M1. Find out more on the M1 Car Sharing Lane Pilot page.

Another location for a car-sharing scheme was announced by transport secretary Alistair Darling in March 2006. This scheme benefits drivers accessing Junction 26 of the M62 from the M606 in West Yorkshire. The project was the first ever car share lane on a UK motorway and was introduced in Spring 2008.

We are also carrying out further investigations to see if this technique could be introduced on other sections of our network.

M1 Car Sharing Lane Pilot

The DfT have decided after careful consideration that an HOV lane is not appropriate on the 6a to 10 section of the M1 and all work to implement HOV on this motorway widening scheme has been stopped. With this announcement from the Secretary of State came the publication of a feasibility study into advanced motorway signalling and traffic management -which can be found on Department for Transport website via the following link:

http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/network/policy/mtorsigntrafmanagement/

The study report contains more information on the M1 HOV lane (paragraphs 7.35 to 7.36, and the wider experience and opportunites from HOV lanes in paragraphs 7.24 to 7.38).

M606 - M62 Car Sharing Lane

On the 20 March 2006, the Transport Secretary Alistair Darling announced the first ever UK motorway car share lane.

Drivers using the M606 and M62 between Bradford and Leeds, in West Yorkshire, will benefit from the £2.5 million initiative, which was introduced in Spring 2008.

The one-mile lane aims to cut the average peak-time journey by eight minutes.

The M62 announcement was the second confirmed location for a car-sharing lane, following on from the scheme for Junctions 7 to 10 of the M1. Work on widening the motorway for the M1 scheme has already started and will be operational in 2008.

Tackling Congestion on England's Motorways

Traffic congestion is an increasing problem during the morning and evening rush hour. Studies show that on the M606 and M62 at Junction 26, 84% of vehicles do not carry passengers.

The Highways Agency has recognised that by encouraging drivers to car share, we can make more efficient use of road space.

map of car share lane

Operation of the Car Share Lane

The car share lane will be between the southbound M606 and eastbound entry slip road at M62 Junction 26. This will allow vehicles carrying more than one person to bypass congestion at Junction 26 and gain priority entry onto the M62 eastbound.

An observation platform located on the M606 close to the start of the car share lane will be used by police to monitor occupancy levels in vehicles entering the car share lane. Enforcement action may be taken against drivers who fail to comply with the passenger requirements of the lane.

Vehicles that can use the Car Share Lane

Cars with 2 or more people in them (including when towing a trailer or caravan)
Coaches and Buses
Minibuses and Taxis (when carrying passengers)
Motorcycles can also use the lane

HGVs will not be allowed to use the Car Share Lane

Benefits of Car Share Lanes

Car share lanes are expected to deliver benefits, these include:

Drivers in car share vehicles will be able to bypass congestion.
Car share vehicles will be able to gain priority access.
Car share vehicles would save on average 8 minutes during peak periods on this section of road - which for regular commuters equates to 30-40 minutes per week.
By sharing a car, you could save up to half your fuel costs of travelling to work and reduce wear and tear on your car.
Non car share vehicles would not suffer from additional delays and should also save time.
Environmental benefits as drivers share their car with others.

Car Sharers

Getting started

West Yorkshire Carshare is a car sharing scheme putting you in contact with other people travelling in and around West Yorkshire, allowing you to arrange to travel together and share the costs, whilst also reducing congestion and pollution on our roads.

How do I join?

Registration is free, secure and easy to do! All you need to do is log on at www.wycarshare.com. Appropriate matches will then be sent to you through a secure e-mail, you then choose who you would like to contact.

For more information on the M606/M62 Car Share Lane and details of how to get started car sharing please download our leaflet below.

M606/M62 Car Share Lane Leaflet - February 2008 (436KB PDF)

To find out more about car sharing vist www.carplus.org.uk.

Implementation Plan

Car share lanes are already in use in Europe and America. At present, in England, there are only three short stretches on local authority roads. The M606 - M62 scheme is the first motorway scheme in England.

This is the second location which has been announced for car sharing. The first location is on the M1 between junction 7 and 10 as part of the widening scheme which will come into operation in 2008.

Looking to the future, the Highways Agency intends to identify a programme of car share lanes nationally, along with other measures, to manage the increasing future demand for roadspace.

The Highways Agency is discussing how its car share schemes may be able to complement local authorities' schemes.

Further Information and Links

Initial Feasibility study 2004 - A study that determined whether High Occupancy Vehicle Lanes would be feasible and ranked potential sites

Press Releases

HOV Trials Announced (July 2004)

Car sharing lanes for the M1 (Dec 2004)

Car Sharing

Information from the Department for Transport about car sharing

We provide some links to car sharing websites on our Links page.