HC Deb 28 July 1965 vol 717 cc112-3W
Mr. John Osborn

asked the Minister of Transport, if he will tabulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT, full details of all experimental and temporary speed limits and restrictions which his Department have issued at holiday periods in the last four years; what were the dates, duration, mileage and class of road on which these restrictions were applied in each case; what measures were taken to publicise these restrictions; what was the cost of the signs, advertising, and publicity required on each occasion; and what was the number of successful prosecutions, as against total prosecutions, for each holiday period for which there were restrictions.

Mr. Tom Fraser

I am writing to the hon. Member giving him the information I have available on the points he has raised. The hon. Member will be aware that enforcement is a matter for the police.

98. Mr. John Osborn

asked the Minister of Transport what additional measures and speed limit restrictions he proposes to take to reduce accidents on the roads over the summer holiday period; what further plans he has to impose temporary speed limits; if he will publish details of these in the OFFICIAL REPORT; and if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the length of roads on which there are speed limits of 50 miles per hour and above, stating each specific section of road which is so affected, and which lengths have permanent, and which have temporary signs.

Mr. Tom Fraser

During the coming months we shall be emphasising the importance of personal responsibility, and giving special attention to the need for care when overtaking.

I have no immediate plans for temporary speed limits, but I propose introducing a permanent limit of 50 m.p.h. on about 200 miles of classified roads before the end of August. This will be in addition to the limit recently announced on some 300 miles of trunk roads. Details of the latter were published in the London Gazette on 29th June. About 7¼ miles of A.1 in Lincoln (Kesteven) and Rutland, and 1½ miles of M.4 near Chiswick were restricted to 50 m.p.h. in 1964.

Only a few temporary signs have been used and these are being replaced with permanent signs as soon as they become available.