M40 motorway

The M40 motorway is the second motorway in the British transport network to connect London to Birmingham. The first part of the motorway was built in the 1960s and connected London to the A40 at Stokenchurch at the top of the Chiltern scarp, some miles west of High Wycombe. There was then a prolonged debate on how best to extend the motorway down onto the Oxford plain. It was not until 1990 that the second section, linking Oxford to Birmingham, was completed.

Related Topics:
Motorway - British - Transport - London - Birmingham - 1960s - A40 - Stokenchurch - Chiltern scarp - High Wycombe - Oxford plain - 1990

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The M40 motorway hit the headlines on 18 November, 1993. The previous night a minibus, carrying 15 pupils from Hagley R.C High School in Worcestershire back from a concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London, crashed on the motorway near Warwick after the teacher driving the minibus allegedly fell asleep at the wheel. Ten pupils and the teacher died at the scene; an eleventh pupil died in hospital two days later from their injuries. Four other pupils survived and made a full recovery. The tragedy resulted in seatbelts becoming compulsory equipment on all buses and coaches, although it is still not compulsory for them to be worn.

Related Topics:
18 November - 1993 - Worcestershire - Royal Albert Hall

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