Crowd and police car at the opening of the M1 on the 2nd November 1959
The M1 was the first British motorway to be completed and it greatly reduced the amount of time it took to travel across the country. The significant crowds demonstrate that many British people were enthusiastic about this innovation to Britain's transport system. When it opened there was no speed limit on the M1. On the 22nd December 1965 a temporary limit of 70mph was imposed, this was made permanent in 1967.
Location
Period
1950s (1950 - 1959)Themes
