Motorway magic

However, the opening of the country's first motorway in 1959 dramatically reduced journey times as average speeds were increased and the stop start effect was drastically reduced.

Fifty years ago, if you wanted to escape from London to spend the weekend in Cornwall, the journey time would have taken a staggering ten and a half hours that compares with a journey time today of just over four hours!

If you were travelling from Yorkshire to Blackpool in 1952, the journey time was nearly four hours today it's just over two hours.

These fugures are based on an average speed of 30mph in 1952. Journey details were supplied by Beaulieu Motoring Museum Library.

Kay Gorman of Churchill Insurance said: "The driving environment has dramatically changed over the past 50 years with the introduction of initiatives such as parking meters, MOT certificates and pelican crossings.

Another major motoring development was the introduction of speed cameras an issue which is still hotly debated and challenged today."

Important motoring events since 1952 which changed the face of motoring include:

Parking meters installed in 1958

The MOT test was introduced in 1960

Traffic wardens appeared on the streets of London in 1960

Automated multi-story car parks opened in London in 1961

Valid MOT certificates were needed in order to obtain a tax disc in 1967

Seat belts in new cars became compulsory in 1967

Pelican crossings were introduced in 1969

The Green Cross Code was launched in 1969

The first airbags were fitted to production cars in 1974

A 60 mph national speed limit and 70mph motorway speed limit were made permanent in 1978

Drivers and front seat passengers in cars and light vans had to wear seatbelts from 1983

Unleaded petrol went on sale in 1986

All rear seat passengers had to wear seat belts where fitted from 1991

Catalytic converters were fitted to all new petrol engined cars in 1992

n The Driving Theory Test was introduced in 1996.