Speed limits on motorways throughout the country could be increased to 80mph, if the the transport secretary, Grant Shapps gets his way.
It is understood the change could be re-evaluated after the surge in electric vehicles on the road.
The possibility of increasing the speed limit was last looked at back in 2011 and was rejected due to the potential increase in carbon emissions.
A rise in the number of electric cars on the road could offset the higher emissions produced when travelling at 80mph, according to Mr Shapps.
“When increasing the speed limit was last looked at in 2011, reviewing the last submission to ministers on the subject, it was thought the carbon emission addition would be too great.”
“But since I am a driver of an electric car myself, I got to thinking about whether that would still be the case.”
“I think there is an argument that once you have increased the level of electrification and therefore decreased or entirely removed carbon, that you might look at those things again.”
The 70mph motorway speed limit was first introduced in 1965 and has been in force ever since.
