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Drivers will soon be redirected onto the hard shoulder of the M42 during times of heavy traffic.

The idea is to reduce congestion on the motorway by allowing drivers to use the lane which is normally reserved for vehicles which have broken down.

It is part of a £100 million Highways Agency initiative called Active Traffic management, which is aiming to find the most effective way of using the UK's motorway network.

The M42, in the Midlands, is one of the country's most congested roads and it is hoped the new scheme will prove to be a success when it begins on September 12th.

"This flexible approach to opening and closing all motorway lanes, including the hard shoulder, to manage traffic shows how innovation and the latest technology can be used to cut congestion," said roads minister Stephen Ladyman.

Electronic signs will tell motorists when they can use the hard shoulder and it is believed that a reduction in congestion on the 11-mile stretch of the road will reduce accidents and car insurance claims.

When the extra lane is opened, cars will be restricted by a 50mph speed limit.

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