§ 69. Mr. John Leeasked the Minister of Transport if she will make a statement on the subject of motorway crash warning signs in the light of the recent spate of crashes on the M4 motorway.
§ Mr. CarmichaelI recognise that the experimental diversionary signals on M4 have not proved entirely satisfactory. A much more sophisticated warning system is to be installed on the section from Chiswick to Langley. Tenders for this were received this morning. A remotely controlled warning system will shortly be completed on the Servern Bridge and will be followed by a phased programme of work on all other motorways.
110W
§ Mr. CarmichaelFew accidents have a single cause. But police returns for the 12 months to July, 1967, indicate that in some 7,000 or 7 per cent. of fatal and serious accidents drivers or riders were reported as going too fast having regard to the conditions in 5,600 or 5.7 per cent., learner drivers were involved; and in 450, 0.5 per cent., drivers were ill, fatigued or physically defective.
The official returns give no information about blood alcohol levels, but it is estimated that between 5 per cent. and 9 per cent. of accidents could have been attributed to alcohol.
§ Mr. Brian Parkynasked the Minister of Transport if she will set out the statistics available to her Department of all fatal road accidents which have occurred during each of the past five years in which the driver of one of the vehicles involved was less than 25 years of age.
§ Mr. CarmichaelInformation is not available exactly in the form requested. The following table compares deaths to riders and drivers aged under 25 with those to all riders and drivers.