§ Mr. Coombsasked the Secretary of State for Transport, in view of the number of recent accidents on the M4 in Wiltshire involving either (a) vehicles crossing the central reservation or (b) vehicles leaving the carriageway altogether, if he will investigate the possibility of providing new or strengthened crash barriers in the interest of greater road safety.
§ Mrs. ChalkerThe investigation of new and strengthened safety fences to provide greater containment of vehicles impacting upon them is already part of the Department's research programme. A number of new types are presently being tested and evaluated to establish whether the containment they provide has safety advantages over present designs and, if so, whether the costs involved are justified. The Department's policy for safety fencing will be reviewed when the investigations have been completed.