§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement concerning the accidents on and near the Severn bridge on 9 January and 18 January.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyThe prime reason for all the accidents on 18 January was that drivers were travelling too fast and too close to the vehicle in front, while paying scant regard to either the weather conditions (thick fog in the Severn valley with visibility down to 10 m) or the 30 mph advisory speed limit.
The accidents clearly demonstrate the need for better driver behaviour in such conditions.
On 19 January a car went through an emergency crossing point in the central reserve into the path of an oncoming heavy goods vehicle. The car driver was killed.
There was severe congestion on the M4 on both ways. The motorway was closed between Almondsbury and Newhouse for several hours on 18 January.