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A maximum speed limit of 55mph should be imposed on drivers to help cut global warming, according to a Lancashire MP.
A House of Commons campaign – originally backed by Chorley MP Lindsay Hoyle and his South Ribble counterpart David Borrow – also calls for a ban on internal flights by the end of next year.
It even states that "at least two hours" of prime-time TV slots should be used each week to explain the "gravity" of the dangers posed by climate change.
A total of 22 MPs backed the controversial Early Day Motion ahead of Monday's crucial Copenhagen conference, where world leaders will discuss how to reduce global emissions.
The motion warns of a "climate emergency" which is "the greatest threat that humanity faces".
The motion had been backed by MP's Hoyle and Borrow, but both yesterday withdrew their names after being contacted by LEP.
He said he agreed with 90% of it but was concerned that lowering the speed limit would result in more congestion. He also said that banning domestic flights by the end of 2012 was too ambitious.
He said: "I was going through hundreds of EDMs at the end of last week and I obviously missed bits of this one which I should have picked up on straight away. It is the first time as an MP I have withdrawn my name from an EDM."
But motoring groups today called the idea "crazy" and said it would make "not a scrap of difference".
According to the EDM, money should be redirected into "green measures" and better insulation should be fitted into homes.
It says that "domestic flights should be phased out by the end of 2010", while a "speed limit of 55 miles per hour should be introduced".
Environmental campaigners point to research by the Independent Committee on Climate Change that if all drivers obeyed the speed limit it would save 1.4 million tonnes of UK carbon emissions.
The motion was tabled by Labour MP Colin Challen, the chairman of the all-party group on climate change, who said: "If the speed limit was reduced that would be leading to further savings.
"It's not necessarily beyond the scope of a modern nation to do that because the US reduced their speed limit during the first 1970s oil shock.
"I think it's worth looking at and it has to be the kind of collective thing only governments can do."
Lindsay Hoyle stressed he does not believe there should be a maximum 55 mph limit across the country, but said there is a case for dropping the limit on some roads.
He said: "A lot of roads are already 60mph. I've just come up the M6 and I have spent most of the time at 50mph because of the roadworks. It should be dropped to 55mph on some roads and increased on others.
"There is a case for insuring that HGVs are restricted to their most efficient speeds. They are the polluters."
He said he wanted high speed rail to replace domestic air travel.
"We have got to strive for high speed rail links and make sure that it can be accessed across the UK. It also means that you open up European destinations," he added.
But driving groups condemned the idea as "ridiculous".
Hugh Bladon, of the Association of British Drivers (ABD), said the ideas in the motion were "daft".
He added: "It is nonsense to suggest driving at 55mph is going to make any difference. We will have people falling asleep at the wheel; it is crazy.
"To have people driving at 55 instead of 65 or 70 is not going to make a scrap of difference."
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Weather for Preston
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -3 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Light sleet
Temperature: 3 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: South east
