HC Deb 09 April 2001 vol 366 c375W
Ms Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what guidelines and specifications he issues about the installation of speed ramps; [157291]

(2) what the specifications are for the size of speed bumps. [157292]

Mr. Hill

Road hump is the generic name for any vertical deflection for controlling vehicle speed. The Highways (Road Humps) Regulations 1999 state that a road hump should be between 25 and 100mm in height, with no vertical face higher than 6mm and have a minimum width in the direction of traffic not less than 900mm.

The DETR has issued a range of traffic advisory leaflets to all local authorities in England and Wales giving guidance on the installation of road humps. Within the scope offered by the Regulations, it is for highway authorities to decide the most appropriate design and dimension of road hump for each of their roads.

Ms Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what guidance he issues about traffic calming outside schools.[157290]

Mr. Hill

A wide range of advice, on traffic calming measures is available through the "Traffic Advisory Leaflet" series published by my Department and issued to all local authorities in England and Wales. The Road Safety Strategy, "Tomorrow' Roads—Safer for Everyone", published in March 2000, stated that local authorities are to be encouraged to use the increased powers they have available to them to introduce 20 mph zones and speed limits in residential areas, where appropriate. This should be a priority, particularly in areas where there are large numbers of children, such as in the vicinity of schools.