§ Mr. Peter Bruinvelsasked the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he makes of the role of lighting in the prevention of accidents on motorways; if he has any plans for providing full motorway lights throughout the motorway system; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. ChalkerMotorway lighting can be expected to reduce the night-time accident rate. Lighting proposals for existing motorways are assessed on a cost-benefit basis taking account of the expected accident savings. However, motorways are the safest type of road and it would neither be economic nor environmentaley acceptable to light motorways throughout their entire length. Therefore I have no plans to do so.
A comprehensive statement on road lighting policy was given by my Deprtment to the House of Commons Transport Committee — (Road Safety Minutes of Evidence, Tuesday 22 March 1983 annex 7 page 25—a copy is in the Library of the House). This policy is broadly consistent with international practice.