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Shadow Tolling
Mr. Chidgey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 15 July, Official Report, column 131, (1) whether the results of the development work on refining the shadow toll payment mechanism so that it is less dependent on traffic-related payments will cover those schemes contained in the accelerated review; [9957]
- (2) in what circumstances shadow tolling of roads offers value for money; [9958]
(3) when he expects to be able to make an announcement on the refinements to shadow toll payment mechanisms to make them less dependent on traffic-related payments. [9959]
Ms Glenda Jackson: A consideration in selecting design, build, finance and operate projects for competition is potential commercial viability. Whether projects offer value for money depends entirely upon the bids submitted for individual projects. The development work on payment mechanisms was begun initially for possible application to the A40 west London approach and A13 Thames gateway DBFO projects. If this refinement of remuneration arrangements is successful it could be applied elsewhere, and we would announce its introduction when we are able to apply it to a particular project.
Coach Safety
Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he will make to other EU countries to legislate to require all coaches carrying children to have seat-belts fitted. [9795]
Ms Glenda Jackson
[holding answer 21 July 1997]: Other EU member states are fully aware of the UK's keenness to have seat belts fitted to all coaches, and its national requirement for seat belts to be fitted in coaches used to carry children, but the decision to introduce a similar national requirement must remain one for the Governments of the individual EU member states.
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However, we expect that in the future more foreign coaches will have seat belts, especially from 1 October 1999 when any member state can impose a general requirement for all coaches being registered to have seat belts fitted.
Mrs. Gillan:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will introduce legislation to prevent foreign coach operators carrying children as passengers in the United Kingdom without having seat belts fitted in their coaches. [9792]
Ms Jackson
[holding answer 21 July 1997]: It is a long standing principle that certain of the UK's national vehicle regulations do not apply to vehicles registered abroad which are temporarily visiting this country. Similar arrangements apply when British vehicles travel to other EU countries. We do not require visiting foreign coaches to comply with our domestic regulations by fitting seat belts for children, and I do not believe it would be realistic to alter this. However, we expect that more foreign coaches will be fitted with seat belts in future as an amended seat belt directive starts to take effect that will allow member states to require the fitting of seat belts to all new coaches.
Mrs. Gillan:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he will take to prevent children being carried in European Union countries on coaches that do not have seat belts fitted. [9794]
Ms Jackson
[holding answer 21 July 1997]: When organised trips to European Union countries start in Britain, newer British coaches must have seat belts available for children. This requirement will extend to older coaches in February next year. While such vehicles will often continue to be used for the journey outside Britain, we do not have any jurisdiction over the domestic transport arrangements for children within other countries if they use a local vehicle. However, we would encourage those arranging trips for British children abroad always to use coaches fitted with seat belts.
Mr. Austin:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the proposal for a rail link to Thamesmead. [10103]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
The option of constructing a southerly extension to the docklands light railway to Thamesmead from Gallions Reach is being assessed as a potential public transport component of the Thames gateway bridge, one of the potential new river crossings for east London currently being appraised by my Department.
Sir Richard Body:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the marine accident investigation branch expects to submit its report on the incident between the flagged vessel Seahorse and the Irish vessel Exodus in March. [10208]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
The marine accident investigation branch has carried out a joint investigation with the Irish Department of the Marine into this tragic
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accident. As this investigation was not an inspector's inquiry the report will not be published through the Stationery Office, but is expected to be available to the Marine Safety Agency and involved parties by the end of September.
Mr. Cousins:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will list the feasibility schemes put up to the Highways Agency by Northumberland county council in respect of the route of the A1 in Northumberland; when these schemes were received; and which ones he proposes to implement;[9497]
(3) for what purpose he has issued article 14 directives in respect of the A1 between the new Tyne crossing and the Gorforth Park interchange. [9515]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to my hon. Friend.
Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Jim Cousins, dated 22 July 1997:
Mr. Chidgey:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will work with the motor industry to develop industry best practice for secondary protection against accidents for older drivers. [9301]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
Manufacturers are continuing to improve the overall secondary safety of cars for all occupants. Longer-term departmental research with
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industry participation includes the possibility of tailoring car secondary safety to the physical characteristics of individual occupants.
Mr. Chidgey:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will review the sight distance standards for non-signalised junction designs to take account of the perception-reaction characteristics of older drivers. [9295]
Ms Jackson:
I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to my hon. Friend.
Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. David Chidgey, dated 22 July 1997:
Mr. Chidgey:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of Devon county council's roadfit scheme.[9299]
Ms Jackson:
The Department has not made any formal assessment of the Devon county council's roadfit scheme, but is taking a close interest in this and similar schemes directed at older drivers.
Mr. Chidgey:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures his Department takes to make drivers aware of declining sensory and cognitive abilities as they get older. [9300]
Ms Jackson:
The present driver licensing system recognises that aging may affect driving ability, although this varies from person to person. Drivers must renew their licences at 70 years of age, at which point they are required to make a declaration about their health. A licence is then issued for up to three years only, subject to a further health declaration at each renewal.
The Department's leaflet, "Advice to Older Drivers", provides advice on driving skills, legal requirements and guidance on when to consider giving up driving. I will arrange for copies to be deposited in the House Libraries.
The Department has commissioned research to study the effects of aging on cognitive ability and to develop appropriate measures for elderly drivers in order to help them maintain their mobility safely.
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Mr. Chidgey:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to work with other European countries towards developing a common approach to helping older drivers.[9302]
Ms Jackson:
There are no current initiatives at European level to develop a common approach towards older drivers.
The report on the safety of older car drivers in the European Union recently published by the European Road Safety Federation is a useful contribution to the international understanding of this issue.
Mr. Chidgey:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will investigate the use of directional arrows at traffic signals with the objective of simplifying decision making for older drivers. [9296]
Ms Jackson:
Work is being done to increase the conspicuity of traffic signals, including those with directional arrows, particularly in adverse viewing conditions. Some trials are under way to assess improvements that can be made to directional arrow signalling at more complicated junctions. Such improvements would help all drivers.
Mr. Chidgey:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what guidelines his Department issues to (a) the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, (b) police authorities, (c) doctors and (d) optometrists in respect of advice to older drivers who are considering giving up driving. [9298]
Ms Jackson:
Guidance on giving advice to older drivers, including advice on preparing to give up driving when this becomes necessary is included within the publication "Medical Aspects of Fitness to Drive", which is published by the medical commission on accident prevention and endorsed by the Secretary of State's honorary medical advisory panels on driving. This publication is distributed widely to medical practitioners, who may also consult doctors at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency by means of a dedicated telephone line.
(2) if he will list the article 14 highway directives issued in respect of the A1 from the new Tyne crossing to the Gorforth Park iterchange; and if those directions are still in force; [9496]
The Minister for Transport in London has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about the A1 North of Newcastle.
You asked for a list of the feasibility schemes which Northumberland County Council have put to the Highways Agency in respect of the route of the A1 in Northumberland.
The County Council submitted a report on the feasibility of dualling sections of the A1 at the end of March 1997. The recommendations are being studied, but it would be inappropriate to list them at this stage because it could cause unnecessary Blight on long sections of the A1. A decision on the schemes may of course also be affected by the reviews announced recently by the Minister.
You also asked for a list of all Article 14 Highway Directions issued in respect of the A1 from the new Tyne Crossing to the Gosforth Park Interchange and if those Directions are still in force.
The Agency has issued two such Directions with respect to planning applications for Newburn Haugh and Newcastle Airport. The purpose for these is:
Newburn Haugh
The Agency has directed conditions on an application to cover improvements needed to the A1 southbound of slip road and the Scotswood Road junction as well as improvements to Scotswood Road (local highway). Planning permission was granted on 8 November 1996.
Newcastle Airport Terminal Extension
The Agency has directed conditions to cover improvements needed to the A696 and A696/A1 junction to facilitate the development. The development now has planning permission.
The Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions has asked me to reply to your recent question concerning a possible review of the sight distance standards for non-signalised junction designs to take account of the perception-reaction characteristics of older drivers.
The standards issued by the Highways Agency for non-signalled cross-road junctions were reviewed and updated in 1995 and for roundabouts in 1993. UK standards are similar in this respect to most European standards. The sight distance standards in the documents take account of a range of perception-reaction characteristics which includes that of older drivers.
Perception-reaction characteristics comprise the time taken to see a sign, feature or hazard, decide what action is necessary, and take action: our standards assume two seconds perception-reaction time. Experience and judgement are important to perceiving and avoiding any potential hazard, though perception-reaction processes slow with advancing age, experience and judgement improve.
In 1995 the Highways Agency reviewed whether road design standards should be amended to allow for demographic changes. Our study concluded that at present sight distance standards are appropriate for drivers with the range of perception-reaction characteristics prevalent in the driving population.
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