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Drivers on the M5 and M6 are shortly to benefit from a new electronic messaging system bringing them up-to-date information to help them better plan their journeys.

Situated at major junctions on the two motorways, the electronic signs will display data from the Highways Agency's National Traffic Control Centre, informing motorists of the current estimated travelling times to different destinations.

They have been installed as part of a regional trial that will last until September, after which the Highways Agency will study the results and feedback they get on the scheme before making a decision on whether to implement it elsewhere.

Roads minister Stephen Ladyman commented: "These new messages are part of a range of information services so drivers can find out about traffic conditions on their route both before they set out and during their journey.

"Displaying journey times on our electronic signs will help them to do that. It will help them plan and consider options such as changing their route or taking a break if there are traffic delays ahead of them."

The messaging systems begin at Stoke and continue for as far down the M5 as Bristol and along the M6 till its junction with the M1 in Warwickshire, covering a total stretch of 160 miles used by over 200,000 vehicles every day.

Their signs function by combining historical information of the covered routes with instantaneous data gathered from road cameras, enabling new estimated journey times to appear every five minutes, along with notification of any delays.