§ Mr. JenkinsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what criteria the Highways Agency uses to evaluate the siting of safety fencing on trunk roads. [20555]
§ Ms Glenda Jackson[holding answer 15 December 1997]The criteria used by the Highways Agency to Evaluate the siting of safety fences on trunk roads is set down in departmental standard TD 19/85 "Safety Fences and Barriers" which is contained in Volume 2, Section 2 of the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges. A copy of TD 19/85 is lodged in the House of Commons Library. This was amended by the statement made by the then Minister for Roads and Traffic to Parliament on17 December 1986,Official Report, column 535, which extended the provision of safety fencing to all dual carriageway trunk roads where it could be shown that this was justified by the traffic using the road. The Highways Agency together with the Transport Research Laboratory are examining accident data to evaluate the case for extending the provision of protection to roadside equipment and obstructions. If the results of this work indicate that a wider provision is necessary, revisions will be made to the Highways Agency standards in due course.