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Transport secretary Ruth Kelly has announced plans to extend the use of the hard shoulder to more motorways, following the trial scheme run on the M42 near Birmingham.
A feasibility study has identified around 500 miles of England's motorways that could realistically benefit from the system.
Roads named as being likely to be included are the M1, M6, and the M62, with other locations such as the M27 and M4/M5 near Bristol suggested for the future.
However, the RAC has expressed serious concern at the suggestion that drivers may be charged for the privilege after Kelly cited the US system, where "access to car-share lanes is limited to vehicles carrying passengers, or single drivers willing to pay a toll".
While the RAC commended the use of hard shoulder running, it also stated that any motorway charging that is introduced should be for genuine new capacity, rather than for a part-time spare lane created by opening the hard shoulder.
Meanwhile, Kelly has also announced the extension of the £200m a year Transport Innovation Fund for another four years. This will see public money dedicated to traffic jam-tackling schemes, such as congestion charging in towns and cities.
Local authorities will be able to apply for the funding, and proposals have so far been received from Greater Manchester and Cambridgeshire.
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