12. Mr. Robert G. HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what advice he currently gives to local authorities about traffic calming measures, including speed humps.
§ Mr. ChopeI continue to emphasise to local authorities the importance of traffic calming measures as a means of restraining vehicle speeds and in modifying driver behaviour.
Mr. HughesDoes my hon. Friend agree that people throughout the country will welcome the fact that the number of casualties on our roads has fallen to an historically low level, despite the number of cars on the roads? Does he agree also that there is a problem in urban areas, where the number of accidents remains high? Does my hon. Friend agree that if local boroughs used their powers to introduce traffic calming measures, particularly road humps, cars would have to go slower and that such measures would contribute enormously to safety in those areas? Will my hon. Friend do what he can to persuade the boroughs to use their powers and put in road humps?
§ Mr. ChopeI am grateful to my hon. Friend for drawing the attention of the House to the substantial reduction in the road casualty figures, which, as he has said, are now the lowest for about 40 years. It is clear that the major problem is to reduce road casualties in urban areas. The key to bringing about that reduction is traffic engineering measures, including road humps. I hope that local authorities will invest the moneys that they receive from their community charge payers and taxpayers in bringing about more regulations.