§ Mr. DayTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will provide a list of research projects, together with their start and end dates, initiated or planned in preparation for the setting of road safety targets after the year 2000; and if he will provide a summary of the aims and the work being undertaken within each project. [9319]
§ Mr. BowisWe have only one research project planned or in progress on road safety targets after the year 2000—"Analysis and Exposure Monitoring Requirements for Post 2000 Targets". The project started on 17 June 1996 and is due to end on 16 June 1998.
The aim of this study is to provide analysis of past and future trends in casualty reductions in order to help develop soundly based new road safety targets post-2000.
The research will involve a systematic analysis of trends in casualty numbers taking account of current assumptions about traffic growth, demographic change, and other relevant factors. Possible new measures for casualty reduction which would be required to achieve a new target will be evaluated and costed. It will also consider how a future target should be monitored and future requirements for vulnerable road user exposure data.
§ Mr. Andrew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the terms of reference are of the evaluation of the hazard perception testing working party set up by the road safety division of his Department; 'what its membership is; what progress it has made; and when it is expected to report. [9424]
§ Mr. BowisWe are at present considering membership for an advisory group on the possible future use of hazard perception testing. Initial approaches have been made to518W several representative groups including: the Transport Research Laboratory, the Driving Standards Agency, DriveSafe Services Ltd. who administer the theory test for learner drivers, driver instruction bodies, the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety, the Northern Ireland Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency, and other experts. There are no plans to ask any group to produce a report: the aim is to provide the Department with a source of advice.