§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on how he plans to reduce(a) city and (b) rural traffic speeds; and what resources have been made available for such initiatives in each of the last five years. [15649]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe Department is continually developing and trialling measures for reducing inappropriate and excessive vehicle speeds. Advice about those that prove successful is made available to Local Highway Authorities to employ on their roads. Examples include 20 mph zones, road humps and horizontal deflections for urban areas, and gateway treatments and low cost measures for rural roads. We are looking at ways to make better use of speed cameras which are particularly effective at sites prone to accidents. This complements our long term aim to change driver behaviour through education and advertising. The latest stage of the "Kill your speed campaign" was launched on 16 September.
No comprehensive information is available centrally on the resources allocated for installing traffic calming and other speed management measures.
§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to increase investment in and use of telematic speed limits; and if he will make a statement. [15651]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe Department has a comprehensive research programme which investigates and tries out innovative schemes, including telematics applied to speed limits. The Highways Agency is assessing the Controlled Motorway Project on a part of the M25 which automatically adjusts speed limits to prevailing traffic conditions. Trials are also underway in the East of England to determine the value of warning signs triggered by speeding drivers.
Until the results are known it is not possible to estimate the merit of these schemes, nor what future investment might be involved. We will continue to consider new applications of technology when these become available.