HC Deb 20 January 1997 vol 288 cc481-2W
Mr. Dalyell

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his policy in respect of financing the erection of permanent advisory "Tiredness Can Kill" signs on roads which have had a high incidence of sleep-related accidents. [9851]

Mr. Bowis

Sleep-related accidents are associated with particular times of day as well as types of road. The need for, and financing of "Tiredness Can Kill" signs on trunk roads and motorways is considered on the basis of local circumstances.

Mr. Dalyell

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he is taking to raise public awareness of the dangers of driving while sleepy. [9852]

Mr. Bowis

We issued preliminary advice to drivers on how to combat sleepiness in September 1995. Further research is in progress into the relative effectiveness of other possible measures to ensure that the best advice is made available to drivers on how to minimise the risk of having a sleep-related accident. This phase of the research will report later this year, following which we will review the requirement for new advice.

Mr. Dalyell

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of drivers who (i) undertake truck driving during the day and taxi driving at night, (ii) work for two companies, with consequences for their total tachograph entry and (iii) run more than one tachograph. [9853]

Mr. Bowis

None; we have no way of quantifying this.

Mr. Dalyell

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research he has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into roads which have a higher than average incidence of sleep-related vehicle accidents. [9855]

Mr. Bowis

Current casualty data do not allow a clear identification of roads with a higher than average incidence of sleep-related accidents. We are midway through a research programme into accident causation which is seeking to develop methods which will more accurately identify the incidence of such accidents. This will report later this year.

Mr. Dalyell

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the extent to which rumble strips are effective in alerting sleepy drivers of large-wheel coaches and heavy goods vehicles with power transmissions. [9854]

Mr. Bowis

Rumble strips—raised rib markings—were initially introduced on motorways to separate the edge of the hard shoulder from the main carriageway, by improving the visual delineation in wet conditions at night. They also provide an audible/vibratory warning to vehicle drivers should they stray from the carriageway for any reason. Their effect in alerting sleepy drivers is an additional benefit.

We have not made an assessment of the effectiveness of rumble strips in alerting drivers; US studies suggest that they can reduce run-off-road accidents by 20 to 50 per cent.