Motorway music

Whilst driving from Newcastle to Gloucester today I noticed that some parts of the M1 have a surface that makes a distictive tyre noise when driven over at speed.

I assume that this is to do with the surface texture, for example the M42 has a very ridged surface in places making a bass note. There's a section of the M1 just north of Shefield that makes a B flat.

Combining all of these types of surface for the right length and duration could actually make music as you drive along the motorway. This may not be as pointless as it sounds, because if you were driving too fast then the tune would sound too fast and you'd slow down.

Different lanes could produce different music and the rhythm section could be added with carefully placed cats eyes. The three lanes of the motorway could be dedicated to different musical genre, e.g. the fast lane could be jazz, the middle classical and the slow lane could be country and western for the truckers.

For the complete musical experience, the matrix gantry signs could be used to display the words to the song your tyres are making. Or if it is a classical tune then just the title.

Different motorways could host different music as well, for example the A30 down to Cornwall could include tunes to keep the kids amused, or other such family classics like "I do like to be beside the sea side" as this is probably where you'll be heading.

This of course means that all motorways will have to be resurfaced with "experimental surfaces", costing millions, this will no doubt mean that Schubert won't be the only composer with an unfinished symphony.