MOTORWAY lights are to be permanently switched off on a busy section of the M1, the Highways Agency said today. The 15-mile stretch, between Milton Keynes and Luton, will retain active lighting at junctions and the approaches to them.

The announcement is part of ongoing efforts to make the junction 10-13 part of the M1 a ‘managed motorway’, with variable speed limits and the option to use the hard shoulder in busy times, managed by electronic overhead signs.

The Highways Agency said that after careful consideration and analysis, they believe that the motorway lights can be switched off without reducing safety for drivers.

The agency's director, Derek Turner, said: "Since 2009 we've switched lighting off between the hours of midnight and 5am on 14 carefully-selected stretches of motorways and evidence so far indicates that switching off the lights hasn't had an impact on safety.

"This is not about wishing to remove all lights from the motorway network. It's about carefully identifying the locations where, under the revised guidelines, we would no longer install lighting.

"The money saved could then be used for other measures on the strategic road network where it would have a more significant safety benefit and potentially save more lives.

"We anticipate achieving an annual reduction in carbon emissions on this M1 stretch of about 810 tonnes. Local communities will also benefit from reduced light pollution of the night sky.”