§ Mr. ChidgeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent cost benefit research his Department has carried out for lighting on motorways.
§ Mr. WattsThis is an operational matter for the Highways Agency, I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. David Chidgey, dated 6 December 1994:
You asked the Secretary of State for Transport what recent cost benefit research his Department has carried out for lighting on motorways. As this is an operational matter for the Highways Agency, I am replying to your question.179WCurrent policy on motorway and trunk road lighting rests on a statement in 1986 by the then Minister for Roads and Traffic, on which I attach a copy. You will see that the decision whether lighting should be provided is always based on an economic assessment of the costs and benefits throughout the life of the proposed lighting scheme, together with a full assessment of environmental factors. Account is also taken of any significant unquantifiable road safety factors.The cost benefit appraisal is similar in form to those conducted for other highway investment proposals, and takes into account the same values, for example on the costs of accidents. No specific research on road lighting appraisal has been undertaken recently, although the effectiveness of road lighting and other measures in reducing accidents is kept under review.