§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration he is giving to the research findings of Douglas Stewart of the department of engineering at the university of Aberdeen in relation to accident prevention for child pedestrians and the use of pedestrian guard rails.
§ Mr. NorrisThe Department is aware of Dr. Stewart's research on these subjects. Our research programme into accident causation will continue to look at ways of effectively evaluating these and other initiatives.
§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport from which individuals and organisations he seeks advice on the design of road curves.
§ Mr. NorrisThis 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. Tam Dalyell, dated 23 January 1995:
The Minister for Local Transport and Road Safety, Mr. Stephen Norris, has asked me to write to you in reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about advice on the design of road curves.The Agency and previously the Department of Transport have provided advice on the design of road curves for many years. This advice reflects the results of monitoring the performance of the network and special studies which have been carried out, in the main, by the Transport Research Laboratory.Additionally, experience abroad is monitored through our various contacts, e.g., Members of the Permanent International Association of Road Congresses, and relevant technical papers are examined to see if any points emerge which require follow up.Finally the requirements are exposed to peer group review from time to time through professional meetings etc. Where the Highway Agency's engineers find fully substantial evidence that the advice is in need of amendment then revised guidance is issued. There is full liaison with the Scottish Office, Welsh Office and DOENI over their requirements.