§ 5. Mr. Aspinwallasked the Minister of Transport if he intends to review the whole system of traffic surveys.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeIt is essential that we maintain the present high quality and accuracy of traffic figures, but we are not satisfied with the existing system of national traffic censuses. We intend to reduce the amount of unnecessary survey work. A review of traffic data collection procedures is already under way in the Department and some rationalisation has taken place. We intend to continue to reduce the number of different traffic surveys and to increase the use of automatic traffic counting equipment.
§ Mr. AspinwallI am encouraged by that reply. Will the Minister ensure that the traffic surveys cause the least possible disruption to traffic flows, and hence inconvenience to road users?
§ Mr. ClarkeI realise that unnecessary surveys cause unnecessary annoyance to many motorists. We hope that by developing automatic vehicle classification equipment we can reduce many of these unnecessary hold-ups.