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3 Jun 2003 : Column 171W—continued
Motorways
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the function of motorway hard shoulders as defined by (a) departmental guidance and (b) legislation. [115705]
Mr. Jamieson: There is no departmental guidance on the function of motorway hard shoulders. The Highway Code (Para. 238) states that
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The legislation covering the use of the hard shoulder is the Motorways Traffic (England and Wales) Regulations 1982. These do not set out the function of the hard shoulder but describe what it is and under what circumstances it may be used, which are as set out in the Highway Code.
Mr. Jamieson: Neither the Department for Transport nor the Highways Agency has conducted or commissioned research on the effect of hard shoulders on the numbers and severity of accidents. However, the Highways Agency has carried out research on hard shoulder discontinuities such as pinch points near bridges resulting from motorway widening schemes. This research has shown that there is no statistically significant difference in accident rates at hard shoulder discontinuities.
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reasons the motorway hard shoulder running trial will be extended to other motorways prior to the completion of the trial on the M42. [115711]
Mr. Jamieson: No decisions have been taken on extending active traffic management to sections of the motorway network beyond the pilot study announced for the M42. But as the motoring organisations have argued further trials at other sites would be required before hard shoulder running could be applied more generally. Such trials could be run in parallel with the M42 study.
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consultation (a) has taken place and (b) is planned relating to hard shoulder running on motorways; and if he will make a statement. [115799]
Mr. Jamieson: No statutory consultation is required. But in developing the M42 Active Traffic Management study, which will include part-time use of the hard shoulder as a running lane under carefully controlled conditions, ongoing consultation is taking place with stakeholders including motoring organisations and the emergency services.
National Travel Survey
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average (a) number and (b) distance per annum of trips as calculated by the National Travel Survey was by (i) car driver, (ii) car passenger, (iii) bus, (iv) walking and (v) other modes of transport broken down by (A) commuting, (B) business, (C) education, (D) escort education, (E) shopping and (F) other reasons, and by sex, and those (1) under 17-years-old, (2) 17 to 29-year-old, (3) 30 to 49-years-old, (4) 50 to 59-years-old and (5) over 60-years-old, in (w) 1975–76, (x) 1985–86, (y) 1992–94 and (z) 1999–2001. [115710]
Mr. Jamieson: This information is very detailed and will be placed in the Libraries of the House.
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Network Rail (Railway Clearing)
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations his Department has received regarding the decision by Network Rail to cut back vegetation and fell trees along railway lines; and if he will make a statement. [114957]
Mr. Jamieson: A number of such representations have been received by my Department. This is an operational matter for Network Rail, who have a duty to maintain the trackside and embankments in such a way as to ensure safety is not compromised.
Park-and-ride Schemes
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the Park and Ride schemes which have been given approval since 1 January 1997, in each
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case stating (a) whether it was (i) a new scheme and (ii) an extension to an existing one, (b) whether the site was located in Green Belt land and (c) how many additional parking spaces were included. [115718]
Mr. Jamieson: The highway authorities in consultation with the appropriate planning authorities develop Park and Ride schemes. The information requested, covering Park and Ride schemes that have been authorised since 1997, is not held centrally. However, the following information was made available for the schemes over the last two years in response to an earlier request for information on Park and Ride.
The following major local public transport projects, which contain proposals for Park and Ride within them, have been approved or provisionally approved. The expected start dates are those provided by the authorities as part of the Local Transport Plans' Annual Progress Reports submitted in July 2001.
| Authority | Scheme | Expected start date |
|---|---|---|
| Bradford | South Bradford Integrated Transport Improvements | November 2001 |
| Cheshire | Chester-Deeside Transport Scheme | May 2004 |
| Doncaster | A638 Great North Road Quality Bus Corridor | April 2002 |
| Durham | Belmont Interchange | October 2003 |
| Tyne & Wear PTA | Four Lanes End Interchange | April 2002 |
| Wiltshire | Salisbury Integrated Transport Measures | April 2002 |
The provision of parking facilities, including Park and Ride, is a matter for the local highway authority and rail operators. In addition to the major schemes, a number of smaller schemes have been proposed/implemented by the local authorities as part of the local transport strategy. These have included proposals for extension of existing sites or new sites for both bus-based and rail-based schemes. These are summarised in the following table. Details of the smaller schemes, including proposed timetables, are not kept centrally.
| Type of scheme | 2001 | 2002 |
|---|---|---|
| Bus-based P&R—new | 7 | 11 |
| Bus-based P&R—extension | 6 | 7 |
| Rail-based P&R—new | 4 | 6 |
| Rail-based P&R—extension | 7 | 8 |
Partnerships UK
Mr. Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what partnerships to fund transport which include local authorities have been established with the assistance of Partnerships UK in each of the last three years. [116804]
Mr. Jamieson: Partnerships UK have participated in partnerships with local authorities for the procurement of the following transport projects:
- Leeds Supertram
South Hampshire Rapid Transit
Staffordshire Street Lighting Scheme.
They have not however provided any funding for such projects.
Pillion Passengers
Mr. Cawsey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the minimum age is for a person to be a pillion passenger on a motorcycle; what regulations relate to the safety of motorcycle pillion passengers; and what plans he has to improve the safety of motorcycle pillion passengers. [116299]
Mr. Jamieson: There is no minimum age for a person to be a pillion passenger on a motorcycle.
There are a number of regulations relevant to the safety of pillion passengers. The key legislative requirements are:
- The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations 1999 require that only motorcyclists who have passed a motorcycle test can carry passengers.
Section 23 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 requires that no more than one passenger may be carried and passengers must be capable of sitting astride a proper seat securely fixed to the motorcycle.
Section 102 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 requires that the machine must be equipped with suitable supports or rests for the feet of the pillion passenger.
The Motor Cycles (Protective Helmets) Regulations 1998 require that passengers must wear a safety helmet.
Section 100 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 requires that passengers must be carried in a manner so that no danger is caused, or likely to be caused, to any person on the vehicle or on the road.
Section 8 of the Road Traffic Act 1991 makes it an offence to use a vehicle when the number of passengers, or the manner in which they are carried, is such that it involves a danger of injury to any person.
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the vulnerability of motorcyclists; and promoting improvements in technical standards. The Government recently launched a safety publicity campaign aimed at urban motorcycling and is working on further safety publicity aimed at those who ride big bikes. These initiatives will improve the safety of pillion passengers as well as riders.
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