§ Mr. FearnTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many motorway and trunk road cross-over accidents have occurred in the past five years involving the rupture or crossing of safety barriers; and what form of construction was used for those road barriers. [17171]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe total number of accidents involving rupture or crossing of safety barriers on motorways and trunk roads is not known. However, the numbers of injury accidents which involved one or more vehicles striking or crossing the central safety barrier are as shown below. No information is available regarding the form of construction of the barriers involved in these accidents.
Injury accidents on motorways and trunk roads in Great Britain Year of Accident 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 One or more vehicles hit central safety barrier 1,388 1,490 1,594 1,621 1,736 One or more vehicles crossed central reservation 230 182 188 171 156 One or more vehicles hit central safety barrier and crossed the central reservation. 46 57 56 64 61
§ Mr. PlaskittTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many drivers have(a) been involved in and (b) suffered (i) serious injury and (ii) death from road traffic accidents within 12 months of passing their test in each of the last five years. [17635]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe information is not available in the form requested. However, it is estimated that:
- (a) about one driver in five has an accident involving at least damage within 12 months of passing the driving test;
- (b) about one in five casualties (to all road users) occur when at least one driver involved is within three years of passing the driving test;
- (c) there are around 25,000 casualties per year (to all road users), of which around 3,500 are fatal or serious, in accidents involving a driver aged 17–25 and within 12 months of passing the driving test.