IT’S official – the M60 is the North’s slowest major motorway.

A recent study has revealed that the average speed on the M60 is just 29.01mph.

This lags behind the M1, which was the fastest speed average at 43.82mph, the M6, which averages 40.62mph, and the M62, at 39.77mph.

The statistics emerged after GPS tracking company, RAM Tracking, conducted a six month study on the road. Information was captured by vehicle tracking software from January to June, gauging the average travel speed of vehicles on specific motorways.

The M606, between Bradford and Dewsbury, recorded the lowest average speed for the country at 24.62mph.

The M60 ranked the sixth slowest motorway in the country – with sprinter Usain Bolt able to run at the same speed as drivers during the motorway’s busiest times. The M602 is recorded as the fifth worst offender in the country, coming in at a 26.91mph average, but RAM Tracking names the M60 as the slowest in the North, presumably due to the length of the M602, which measures just 6.4km.

A 50mph zone is currently in place on the M60 to allow for ‘smart motorway’ works. The 17-mile scheme between the M60 junction 8 near Sale and M62 junction 20 near Rochdale aims to cut congestion and improve journey times in Greater Manchester.