§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many injury accidents involving road vehicles have occurred in each of the last five years within motorway service areas; and what action he is taking to reduce such risks.
§ Mr. AtkinsThe Department does not keep records of accidents within motorway service areas (MSAs). Police reporting of road accidents excludes accidents within MSAs, because the roads there are not roads within the Road Traffic Act 1988.
Three operators, responsible for 29 MSAs used by about 75 million vehicles a year, have confirmed that personal injury accidents within MSAs are rare; those consulted recalled two accidents in the last five years.
The Department seeks to reduce accidents on MSAs by careful design of roads and by separate parking for cars, coaches and HGVs, and good signing and lighting. It inspects MSAs annually. The Department also considers safety matters when examining requests for MSA operators to make structural alterations.
§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make an appraisal of the implications for safety, particularly for vehicles legally prohibited or practically unable to travel at speeds exceeding 50 mph., of the present arrangement for vehicles joining the M42 from the M40 in the offside fast lanes.
§ Mr. AtkinsThe present layout where the M40 and M42 link roads join allows traffic at different speeds to adjust and merge. It is operating satisfactorily and safely with present traffic flows. No vehicle complying with the construction and use regulations and permitted to travel on a motorway is legally prohibited from travelling in excess of 50 mph there.