§ Mr. Home RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the fatal accident on the Tranent-Macmerry bypass on 6 July; and if he will take further steps to warn motorists that that section of the A 1 road is not a dual carriageway.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThis appalling accident took place in the early morning of 6 July in darkness and fog on a stretch of the A1 between Tranent and Haddington. It is too early to draw conclusions as to the causes of the accident or the factors which may have contributed to its exceptional severity. A report on the accident will be made by the police to the procurator fiscal. The stretch of road in question has a good safety record with an accident rate well below the national average for a road of its type. The signs and road markings provided exceed national standards.
The steering group which I set up to carry out a programme of improvements to the A 1 as part of a route action plan has been examining the whole length of the route between Edinburgh and Newcastle to identify accident remedial measures which might be taken. Their examination has included this and other single carriageway sections of the route. I am now asking the group to re-examine these sections in the light of this accident to consider whether there are any signing or other remedial measures which could further improve the safety of these sections and which could be implemented at an early date.
I have asked the police to advise me of any issues relevant to road safety relating to this section of the road which have become apparent from their investigation of the accident and I will, of course, give urgent consideration to any recommendations they may make.
My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport has already indicated that following the accident his Department will also be reviewing the requirements relating to the seating for passengers carried in vans.