§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps are currently undertaken by his Department to enhance the usage of variable message signs on the motorway network and non-motorway road network in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Kenneth CarlisleThe use of variable message signs on English motorways and all-purpose trunk roads has increased in recent years, most notably around the Manchester and Birmingham conurbations. A new design of motorway signal incorporating a variable message578W capability has been trialled on the M25 and approved for installation on all English motorways that are to be widened to dual four lanes.
My Department is preparing to install a traffic management VMS scheme on roads in Kent comprising the M20 and M26 from the M25 to Folkestone and the A2/M2/A2 route from Dartford—M25—to Dover. Further applications for use of VMS are being considered.