§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals his Department has to improve the safe and secure laying of cones and the removal of unnecessary cones on motorways; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. KeyThe laying out of traffic cones has to follow procedures laid down in chapter 8 of the Traffic Signs Manual. This sets out British standards requirements for the cones themselves, how they should be positioned at roadworks—in the interests of road workers' safety as well as road users—and how they should be removed as soon as they are no longer required. It is a condition of highway contracts on motorways and other trunk roads that contractors, and their traffic management sub-contractors, adopt the requirement of chapter 8. Together with Health and Safety at Work etc. Act legislation, this already imposes considerable safety obligations on all those concerned with the placement, management and removal of traffic cones. Nevertheless, the Department is constantly reviewing its safety procedures and guidance.
§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many accidents have occurred on motorways as a result of stray motorway cones in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. KeyMy Department does not keep records or statistics which show whether any motorway accidents have been caused by stray traffic cones.