The introduction of the congestion calming M42 hard shoulder for traffic has been voted as the best automotive invention of the past 10 years. Fast-fit network HiQ has celebrated the end of the ‘noughties’ by asking customers for their favourite innovation of the decade, with the motorway’s hard shoulder being used at peak times coming out on top.

HiQ asked 200 of its customers to vote for the most successful piece of automotive gadgetry or invention that has made the most difference to motorists’ and the highways.

The M42’s traffic calming measure was voted as the best innovation (32 per cent) in the past 10 years with satellite navigation systems second (27 per cent) and the M6 Toll coming third (18 per cent).

HiQ’s create demand manager Geraldine McGovern said: “We wanted to commemorate the last 10 years in some way, and thought it would be nice to ask customers what they thought was the most memorable and successful creation over the decade.

“Traffic congestion has, and will continue to pose problems for drivers, so we can see why a scheme like the M42’s has been so popular. It has certainly saved us all time!

“We hope that the HiQ fast fit network will be top of motorists’ lists in 10 years time as we attempt to revolutionise the way the way cars and vehicles are repaired across the UK.”

Motorists have been able to use the hard shoulder from junctions 3a to seven, in the Midlands, since 2006.

The hard shoulder on the M42 is used at peak times and the speed limit is reduced to 50mph to ease congestion.

The full results are:

  1. M42 hard shoulder running (32 per cent)
  2. Sat Nav systems (27 per cent)
  3. M6 Toll (18 per cent)
  4. On-board tyre pressure monitoring systems (10 per cent)
  5. SPECS Cameras (4 per cent)
  6. Others (9 per cent)

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