§ Mr. Frank FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he has taken to encourage and help local authorities to implement low-cost safety engineering schemes and to develop areawide safety plans.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyWe are working closely with the local authority associations to identify problems over implementing low-cost safety engineering schemes and ways of stepping up this important safety work.
We are already developing jointly with the Institution of Highways and Transportation practical guidelines for implementing areawide urban safety projects. Last autumn we increased the economic valuation for fatal road casualties and this will improve the economic rate of return on accident investigation and prevention schemes. The transport and road research laboratory has now completed a full survey of local authorities' arrangements, procedures, and levels of activity on road safety engineering, and a report will be published shortly.
AIP and urban safety schemes are among the most important methods of reducing road casualties. Much 708W expertise already exists at local level and much can be achieved at low cost. It is for local authorities, within their statutory responsibility for road safety, to determine priorities and tackle this work. The Department will continue to give full support and guidance.