§ Mr. Priorasked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many miles of dual carriageway are currently fitted with crash barriers; what is the cost per mile; and what would be the cost of fitting crash barriers on all dual carriageways.
(2) how many miles of motorway are currently fitted with crash barriers; and what effect this has had on the accident rate.
§ Mr. HoramThe information is not available for local authority roads. For trunk roads it is as follows:
- (a) Approximately 1,230 miles of motorways and 70 miles of all-purpose roads are equipped with central reserve barriers.
- (b) Barriers cost about £25,000 per mile at current prices, and it would cost about £34 million to equip all dual carriageway rtunk roads.
- (c) There is little evidence on the effect of barriers on accident rates. The indications are that they reduce serious accidents but add to minor ones.