§ Mr. Dudley Smithasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will state the number of accidents which took place on the two-lane section of the south-bound carriageway of the M1 on the evening of Sunday 17th July; how many vehicles were involved; what the police consider to be the main causes; how many prosecutions for dangerous or careless driving are under consideration; and what proposals he has for improving safety on this particular stretch of motorway at peak traffic times.
§ Mr. HoramSeven accidents occurred on the southbound carriageway of the two-lane section of the M1 on the evening of Sunday 17th July. They involved 22 vehicles. The police consider that the main cause was a sudden heavy shower of 95W rain which produced a slippery surface after the long dry spell, with drivers failing to keep a sufficient distance from the vehicle in front. Each accident is believed to have been started by a driver breaking, leading to a series of shunts.
It is not possible for the police to say how many prosecutions may result as reports and inquiries will take several weeks to complete. A public inquiry has been held into a proposal to widen this stretch of the Ml to four lanes in each direction, but the results have yet to be announced.