§ Mr. Gareth WardellTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what information his Department holds on the incidence of accidents on stretches of three-lane carriageways where the centre lane may be used by vehicles travelling in either direction;
(2) if he has any plans to phase out three-lane carriageways where the centre lane may be used by vehicles travelling in either direction.
§ Mr. AtkinsIn England wide single carriageways marked in three lanes but without indication of priority—double white lines—were dropped from the Department's standards for new trunk roads about 20 years ago. Many stretches of such carriageway then in existence have since been phased out and re-marked as two lanes. A few sections remain where they are judged to be safe and appropriate to prevailing traffic conditions. Information about such sections of local roads is for local highway authorities. While road accident statistics record the number of lanes they do not distinguish between those three-lane roads with double white lines and those without. The position in Wales and Scotland is a matter for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales and for Scotland respectively.