§ Mr. PawseyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what is the capacity of the M1 between each junction from junction 1 to Luton, assuming typical flow composition, traffic speeds and weather; and what the current flows are for the hours of(a) 7 am to 10 am and (b) 4 pm to 7 pm as a percentage of that capacity between each junction; [6802]
(2) what have been the accident rates in each of the past five years per mile of motorway (a) on the M1 between junction 1 and Luton and (b) on the motorway network as a whole. [6801]
§ Mr. WattsI have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to my hon. Friend.
Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. James Pawsey, dated 9 December 1996:
The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent questions about traffic flows and accident rates on the M1 between Junction 1 and Luton (Junction 10).There is no precise measure of road capacity which can be universally applied, even for motorways. The spacing of junctions and the volumes of traffic leaving and joining can have a significant impact on capacity for a typical motorway. The capacities used in calculating the percentages in the table below have assumed a maximum flow per lane per hour of 2,000 vehicles. At this level, the average speed will be significantly lower than the National speed limit. This is also the point at which stop/start conditions may be expected arising from traffic joining and leaving the motorway, incidents, poor driver behaviour or adverse weather conditions.
Junction Vehicles southbound 7am -10am Vehicles northbound 7am -10am Vehicles southbound 4pm-7pm Vehicles northbound 4pm -7pm 1–2 (3 lanes dual) 10,000 (56 per cent.) 4,500 (25 per cent.) 5,100 (28 per cent.) 9,100 (50 per cent.) 2–4 (3 lanes dual) 12,200 (68 per cent.) 5,600 (31 per cent.) 6.000 (33 per cent.) 11,200 (62 per cent.) 4–5 (3 lanes dual) 13,700 (76 per cent.) 7,100 (39 per cent.) 7,300 (41 per cent.) 12,800 (71 per cent.) 5–6 (3 lanes dual) 11,000 (61 per cent.) 6.200 (34 per cent.) 7,200 (45 per cent.) 11,200 (62 pier cent.) 6–6a n/a n/a n/a n/a 6a–7 (4 lanes N/B, 3 lanes S/B) 15,00 (83 per cent.) 11,5000 (48 per cent) 12,000 (67 per cent) 15,000 (63 per cent.) 7–8 (4 lanes dual) 17,800 (74 per cent.) 14,100 (59 per cent.) 14,600 (61 per cent.) 18,100 (75 per cent.) 8–9 (3 lanes dual) 13,000 (72 per cent.) 11,200 (62 per cent.) 12,200 (68 per cent.) 15,100 (84 per cent.) 9–10 (4 lanes N/B, 3 lanes S/B) 11,300 (63 per cent.) 11,000 (46 per cent.) 11,500 (64 per cent.) 15,600 (65 per cent.) n/a = not available. 34W
Figures in percentages are the actual flows as a percentage of the capacity based on 2,000 vehicles per lane per hour.Details of the accident rates for the main carriageway of the M1 between Junction 1 and Junction 10, together with the national accident rates are set out in the table below. The rates are provided both in terms of the number of accidents per mile, and in terms of the number of accidents per 100 million vehicle miles travelled, the measure normally used when comparing safety records between different sections of road.
Year National rate (accidents/mile) M1(J1-J10) rate (accidents/mile) National rate (accidents/100 million vehicle miles) M1(J1-J10) rate (accidents/100 million vehicle miles) 1991 3.42 7.48 16.5 14.8 1992 3.54 8.21 17.7 16.3 1993 3.76 8.85 17.7 17.6 1994 3.92 7.69 17.7 15.3 1995 3.99 9.57 17.0 19.0