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19 Nov 2003 : Column 928W—continued
Reflective Clothing
John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what assessment has been made of the effect of wearing reflective clothing on the number of (a) child and (b) road casualties; [139589]
- (2) what support has been given to the Cats Eyes for Kids road safety campaign; and what assessment there has been of its impact on (a) the number of casualties and (b) promoting better individual behaviour related to road safety. [139590]
Mr. Jamieson: The Nationwide's Cats' Eyes for Kids campaign promotes reflective clothing, and provides reflectors for children to wear. It is not possible to quantify exactly how much the wearing of such materials impacts on casualties. But together with other good practice, it undoubtedly makes our children more visible when walking in the dark and thus safer on the roads. The Nationwide initiative is an excellent example of how the private sector can help us to meet national casualty reduction targets.
Road Accidents
Mr. Geoffrey Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) deaths of and (b) injuries to (i) vehicle drivers, (ii) vehicle passengers and (iii) pedestrians occurred as a result of road accidents involving (A) converted-van or multi-purpose vehicle taxis and (B) purpose-built taxis in (1) the United Kingdom and (2) London in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [137682]
Mr. Jamieson: The available information relates to the number of deaths and injuries to (i) vehicle drivers/riders, (ii) vehicle passengers and (iii) pedestrians as a result of road accidents involving taxis (hackney carriages) in (1) Great Britain and (2) Greater London in each of the last five years. This information is shown in the following table. Information is not available on accidents involving converted van or multi-purpose vehicle taxis. Information for Northern Ireland is collected on a different basis and does not identify pedestrian injuries resulting from accidents involving taxis.
(6) Body type taxi—definition used in the DVLA, DVLI administrative records.
(7) Includes casualties other than taxi occupants.
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Road Traffic Control
Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received on permitting civilians to direct vehicles on public highways; and if he will make a statement. [139945]
Mr. Jamieson: There are limited circumstances in which civilians can direct vehicles on public highways. I refer the hon. Member to the answer I have given today (ref. 139944). In developing its role as a network operator, as announced by the Secretary of State for Transport in his statement to the House on 20 June 2003, the need was identified for civilian traffic officers working on the trunk road network, around the clock to keep traffic flowing. This followed a review undertaken by the Agency, in partnership with the Association of Chief Police Officers, of both organisations roles and responsibilities for traffic management. This concluded that responsibility for a number of tasks associated with traffic management should transfer from the police to the Highways Agency. In order to develop its role the Highways Agency needs new, limited, traffic management powers and is preparing the necessary legislation.
The Highways Agency continues to work in partnership with the police and has held discussions with representatives of primary stakeholders, including constabularies, road contractors, County Surveyors Society, AA and RAC.
Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the SPECS electronic signs on the M4 between junction 4 and junction 15 contain cameras which (a) read vehicle number plates, (b) compute vehicle speeds and (c) are used to issue speeding tickets; and if he will make a statement. [139948]
Mr. Jamieson: There is no camera equipment located on the M4 between junctions 4 and 15 that is capable of (a) reading vehicle number plates, (b) computing vehicle speeds in order to (c) issue speeding tickets.
Sleeping Drivers
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road accidents caused by drivers falling asleep while driving there were in each year since 1997. [138938]
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Mr. Jamieson: The information requested is not available. Research has estimated that tiredness is a principle factor in around 10 per cent. of car driver accidents and about 15–20 per cent. of all accidents on motorways and other similar roads.
Speed Partnerships
Mr. Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for the future of speed partnerships. [138948]
Mr. Jamieson: At present 42 partnership areas are participating in the scheme. We plan to continue with the national roll out of this successful programme.
Mr. Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidelines there are for setting speed areas for speed partnerships. [138949]
Mr. Jamieson: Guidelines for the setting of speed limits are contained in Circular Roads 1/93.
Mr. Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what level of fine proceeds from mobile partnership speed vans was given to public authorities in the Avon and Somerset area in 2002–03. [139036]
Mr. Jamieson: Fines from speeding offences detected by mobile units are not separated for the purpose of Home Office statistics.
Mr. Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidelines he has published on partnership speed camera vans in the Somerset and Avon area. [139038]
Mr. Jamieson: Vehicles associated with mobile camera units need to be in a livery that makes clear the vehicles contain the speed enforcement cameras.
Transport Security
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what steps he is taking to minimise the security risk from terrorists using haulage vehicles to attack targets; [138357]
- (2) what security checks are carried out on (a) individuals and (b) organisations seeking permits to transport hazardous materials. [138363]
Mr. Jamieson: The UK's existing transport security regimes are kept under review to ensure they continue to manage the assessed risk, although for obvious reasons it is not appropriate to set out the detail of the particular security measures.
Transport Staff
John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff were employed by (a) the Office of the Rail Regulator, (b) the Strategic Rail Authority, (c) Her Majesty's Railway Inspectorate, (d) sections relating to railway matters within the Health and Safety Executive and Health and Safety Commission and (e) the (i) Rail Delivery Directorate and (ii) Railways Restructuring Directorates, or their equivalent, within his Department in each year since 1997. [139727]
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Mr. McNulty: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 3 February 2003, Official Report, column 46W. As at 1 April 2003, 83 staff were employed in my Department's Rail Directorate.
Trunk Roads
Mrs. Lawrence: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what weight restrictions are in place on trunk roads; [139078]
- (2) which trunk roads have weight restrictions placed on them. [139079]
Mr. Jamieson: I have asked the Acting Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. Stephen Hickey, to write to my hon. Friend.
Letter from Stephen Hickey to Mrs. Jackie Lawrence, dated 19 November 2003:
- I have been asked by David Jamieson to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about weight restrictions on trunk roads.
- The trunk road network in England, which is the responsibility of the Highways Agency, has very few permanent and temporary weight restrictions below the 40 tonne requirement in place, following a programme of strengthening work that has been carried out in recent years. The locations where restrictions are currently in place are listed in Table 1.
| Trunk road/structure | Weight limit (tonnes) | Temporary/permanent |
|---|---|---|
| A282 Dartford Crossing (offside lane of east tunnel) | 3 | Permanent |
| A282 Dartford Crossing (offside lane of west tunnel) | 7.5 | Permanent |
| M5 Junctions 27–28 | 7.5 | Temporary |
| M4 Junctions 16–18 | 7.5 | Temporary |
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