The Times, Billy Kenber, 26 August 2014

White lines could be removed from the centre of roads in London as research showed that this cut speeds because motorists’ confidence was reduced.

Transport for London conducted a study on three stretches of road in the capital and found a dramatic reduction in speed. The report said one theory was that “centre lines and hatching can provide a psychological sense of confidence to drivers that no vehicles will encroach on ‘their’ side of the road”.

The average speed of southbound cars on a 650m stretch of Seven Sisters Road, north London, fell from 32.4mph to 28.3mph as a result of the change.

Earlier trials in Wiltshire and Norfolk found that removing white lines had led to a reduction in collisions.

TfL said it would continue to monitor the trial sites and was looking at removing white lines at other locations, although some would be unsuitable due to the proximity of busy junctions.