§ 4. Mr. Greville Jannerasked the Secretary of State for Transport how many road accidents have been caused as a result of roadworks on the M1 during the last year for which records are available.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Mrs. Lynda Chalker)The accident report form supplied by the police gives no information as to the causes of accidents, although the presence or absence of certain unfavourable circumstances is noted.
During 1981 there were 172 personal injury accidents on the M1, outside the Metropolitan area, in which road works were reported to be present. In 13 such accidents the roadworks were hit.
§ Mr. JannerWill the Minister accept, from one of those who hit the road works, that while roadworks are in progress on the M1 the motorway is far more dangerous than normal and that during the present season of fog and ice people should cease behaving like homicidal maniacs, thereby risking their own lives and others on the roads, not least the lives of hon. Members going to and from their constituencies?
§ Mrs. ChalkerI accept what the hon. and learned Gentleman says about the increased danger on the roads at this time of year. Motorists would do well to observe the speed limits. However, since we started the longer crossovers and the shorter length of road under repair, the accident rate on all the sections has fallen dramatically. That is good news. But too high a speed in bad road conditions will cause accidents.
§ Mr. Gwilym RobertsI have frequently come across these roadworks, but have not hit them. Does the Minister accept that this is a matter of widespread concern among the travelling public? If there are no figures on the relationship between accidents and road works on motorways, is it not time that such figures were compiled? Is it possible for the Minister to give her original figures as a proportion of the total number of accidents, so that we can judge the contribution that road works make to the accident figures?
§ Mrs. ChalkerI frequently ask for more statistics so that we can see whether there is any casual relationship, but hon. Members would be wrong to draw the conclusion that accidents are necessarily more prevalent at road works. Accidents arise from a combination of factors. Often the most important factor is that drivers fail to reduce speed when conditions demand that they should.
§ Mr. HigginsAre the speed limits displayed near road works legally enforceable? If so, is my hon. Friend aware of any prosecutions for exceeding those limits?
§ Mrs. ChalkerI am not aware of any prosecutions, but I shall look into the matter further.