Speed Limits (Hansard, 14 January 1992)

Mr. Peter Botomley
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the European Commission added speed limits to the draft directive on speed limiters.

§ Mr. Chope
The proposal for fitment of speed limiters to certain vehicles (Document 8046/91), including the speeds at which the limiters should be set, was sent by the Commission to the Council on 31 July 1991 and to member states on 11 September 1991.

§ Mr. Peter Bottomley
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) on what date the European Commission's speed limit proposal was communicated to(a) the Economic and Social Committee, (b) trade unions and (c) employers for their comments and advice;
(2) when, and by what procedure, the European Parliament considered the European Commission's speed limit proposal.

§ Mr. Chope
The proposed EC directive on the fitment of speed limiters (Document 8046/91) was communicated to the European Parliament and to the Economic and Social Committee on 22 August 1991. My hon. Friend will note that this was about three weeks earlier than the communication to member states. The European Parliament gave its opinion on 13 December, and the Economic and Social Committee gave its opinion on 27 November. Both supported the principle of the proposal. The proposal was not formally communicated by the Commission to trade unions for comment, but both employers and employees interests are represented in the membership of the Economic and Social Committee.

§ Mr. Peter Bottomley
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate has been provided by the European Commission of the benefit in reduced numbers of crashes or reduced severity of injuries of the draft directive involving speed limiters.

§ Mr. Chope
The Commission proposal on the fitment of speed limiters (Document 8046/91) did not provide estimates of reduced numbers of accidents or severity of injuries.

§ Ms. Walley
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the environmental benefits of reducing speed limits.

§ Mr. Chope
[holding answer 13 January 1992]: A reduction in speed limits would produce benefits only if it resulted in lower vehicle speeds. The principal environmental benefit of lower speed is a reduction in emissions. This is true of both motor vehicles and trains.