Bridges: Damage by Vehicles (Hansard, 21 July 1994)

§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Transport (Viscount Goschen)
My Lords, following the options identified in the 1988 report, we have worked closely with British Rail, Railtrack and other bridge owners, local authorities, bus operators and the haulage industry to monitor and reduce bridge strikes.

§ Lord Mountevans
My Lords, perhaps I may be the first to congratulate my noble friend on his promotion and to welcome him to that select group of noble Lords who seek to keep transport towards the top of the agenda.
I thank my noble friend for his Answer and sincerely acknowledge the work that the Department of Transport has already done in signposting bridges which are prone 358 to be bashed by road vehicles on trunk roads, and the strong publicity campaign that it has conducted through the DVLA.
However, is my noble friend aware that despite those excellent activities, the number of incidents is not falling? Last year there were 834 incidents, almost 30 involving buses, a factor which seems to be doubly a matter of concern. Indeed, there were no fewer than six incidents last Friday. If one annualizes the figure, it gives a much higher number than 834. When will the Department of Transport continue its good work, first, by making height signs within lorry cabs mandatory by means of an order under the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations; and, secondly, by bringing further pressure on local authorities to signpost the low bridges for which they are responsible?

§ Viscount Goschen
My Lords, first, I thank my noble friend for his kind words. We take the issue of bridge strikes seriously. That is why we are currently in the process of examining the construction and use regulations to address the problem which my noble friend highlighted. I can give the assurance that we shall continue to encourage local authorities to put up mandatory signs.

§ Lord Clinton-Davis
My Lords, perhaps I may join with the noble Lord, Lord Mountevans, in congratulating the noble Viscount on his promotion. I hope that he will enjoy it very much during the dying days of this Government.
Will he encourage his department actually to do something about the construction and use regulations? The working party considered the regulations in 1988. Does the Minister consider that there has been sufficient time to come to some conclusions? When will he be able to indicate that some action will be taken so that Parliament can consider the matter?

§ Viscount Goschen
My Lords, first, I thank the noble Lord for his slightly double-edged compliments.
As I have already said, we take the issue very seriously. We have made good progress. We have put up a great many automatic signs. We have issued guidance. We have participated in co-operation with a number of other organisations in a publicity campaign. We have co-operated with the AA in producing the "Truckers Atlas" which shows where those low bridges are situated. We have made good progress on the issue.

§ Lord Tordoff
My Lords, I, too, join in the general congratulatory mood of the House. There is normally a select group of about seven Members of this House who speak on transport. It is good to see a crowded House for such an important question. It is good to see the noble Viscount emerging from the mayhem of last night on the Government Front Bench.
However, he has not convinced us that the Government are taking action on the construction and use regulations, referred to by the noble Lord, Lord Clinton-Davis. Some actions have been taken. However, the noble Lord, Lord Mountevans, referred to mandatory signs in cabs. Those have not been made mandatory. Nor has the provision of warning lights in cabs, for 359 instance, of skip lorries to ensure that the skip is in its proper place and not above the level of the cab. Can we have further reassurance?

§ Viscount Goschen
My Lords, again, I am grateful to the noble Lord. I am glad to be the eighth Member of your Lordships' House to speak on transport.
As I stated, in consultation with the haulage industry and bridge owners, we are currently considering ways of amending the construction and use regulations. However, those amendments must be viable and enforceable. With regard to cab signs, the range of vehicles will be as large as possible, beyond the existing categories for which there is a legal requirement. We are also seeking to include provision for automatic warning devices for vehicles with on-board cranes, and such like.