 Motorists spent just as much time in traffic jams |
A Highways Agency trial which kept caravans in the slow lane on a section of the M5 had "no significant effect on the level of congestion". The trial was set up to examine the causes of congestion on the busy route near Bristol during the summer.
An agency report says the trial did not have an impact on congestion levels or the time motorists were waiting in queues on the trial section.
The trial took place on the M5 on Naish Hill in North Somerset in Summer 2004.
The Highways Agency studied CCTV footage during the trial period.
It says some of the recordings showed "a minority of other drivers are not properly considerate and have poor lane discipline."
Malcolm Wilkinson, from the Highways Agency, said: "We found that last summer's trial had no significant effect on the level or duration of the congestion.
"We are pleased that a higher percentage of drivers who are towing trailers did stay in the inside lane."
A spokeswoman for the Caravan Club said: "The Caravan Club has been involved in this scheme from the start and we are delighted and very pleased to see that today's results prove that caravans do not solely cause congestion.
"We are hoping to continue to work with the Highways Agency in the future to relieve congestion for our members on the roads and motorways."
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