HC Deb 01 August 1972 vol 842 cc103-4W
Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many accidents there have been on the M6 since it opened;

(2) how many lives have been lost in accidents on the M6;

(3) how many accidents on the M6 have involved vehicles crossing the central reservation.

Mr. Eldon Griffiths

Following are the figures:

Number of injury accidents
Years Number of deaths
Total Crossover*
1958 to 1968 171 1,579 Not available
1969 to 1972† 173 1,450 217
Total 344 3,029 Not available
* A cross-over accident is one in which one or more vehicles crossed the central reservation.
† Includes first six months of 1972.

Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about measures other than safety barriers he proposes to reduce the number of accidents on the M6.

Mr. Eldon Griffiths

Lighting is to be installed on a further 23 miles of the M6. Automatic signals are already in operation between the Barthonley Inter-change and Broughton Link and between Great Barr and Castle Bromwich. This system will in time be extended to the rest of the M6.

The light-wells on the M6 have now all been removed.