5,000 Cars An Hour On Motorway The London-Birmingham motorway yesterday had its heaviest traffic yet. The Automobile Association reported a peak of over 5.000 vehicles an hour, includ- ing heavily laden family cars, sports models, motor cycles, and even caravans. An A.A. spokesman said: " Traffic was converging from all directions. Our spotter aircraft crew likened the New- port Pagnell approach road to Charing Cross at rush hour. " It was obvious that manv drivers had not learnt their motorway code. Signals were too few, and given too late, and motorists were not allowing them- selves enough time to pull out before overtaking." BRIDGE WARNING Thousands of sightseers lined the motorway's bridges and flyovers and the A.A. issued an appeal saying: "Please do not drop anything-even cigarette packets or toffee papers-on to the road. It was found when the Preston motor- way opened that small boys were doing this, causing considerable danger to drivers." Last night the A.A. added: "Some very high speeds, over the 100 m.p.h. mark, have been observed on the Ml. Even after dark some cars were doing 100 m.p.h. in the fast lanes." Patrols reported some 70 breakdowns during the day, a high proportion of them due to overheating. 5,000 CARS AN HOUR ON MOTORWAY " MANY DRIVERS HAVE NOT LEARNT CODE "