§ Mr. MillsTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the safety of the proposed concrete motorway barriers on collision of cars and heavy goods vehicles; and if he will make a statement. [30641]
§ Mr. WattsThis is an operational matter for the Highways Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to my hon. Friend.
Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Iain Mills, dated 29 June 1995:
As you know, the Minister for Railways and Roads, Mr. John Watts, has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Question, asking the Secretary of State for Transport about the adequacy of the safety of concrete safety motorway barriers on collision of cars and heavy goods vehicles.All safety barriers, including concrete safety barriers, that are deployed on our network fully meet the performance requirements for vehicle restraints that are set down in the Manual for Contract Documents for Highway Works (MCHW).With the help of the Transport Research Laboratory, the Highways Agency has carried out an extensive programme of research into the performance of vehicle restraints systems. In all tests carried out on Vertical Concrete Barriers the test vehicles have been safely contained and redirected along the line of the barrier.The performance requirements set out in the MCHW have been shown to be reasonable in service but the Highways Agency has a continuing commitment to keep the overall performance of all vehicles restraint systems under review and will amend its requirements in the light of operational experience.