HC Deb 15 February 1999 vol 325 cc431-3W
Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many(a) incidents have been reported of missiles being thrown from bridge parapets onto (i) motorways, (ii) other roads and (iii) railways and (b) how many such incidents have resulted in (1) death, (2) serious injury and (3) slight injury, in each of the last five years. [70270]

Ms Glenda Jackson

Records of the incidents of missiles being thrown from bridges on to motorways and trunk roads are not recorded specifically on the traffic accident forms completed by the police. Therefore a statistical database is not available to provide the

Ms Armstrong

The information requested is given in the following table.

information requested. The rate at which incidents involving serious injury occur on the roads for which the Highways Agency is responsible is thought to be up to three per annum in recent years according to the historic evidence of such incidents. None of these is believed to have resulted in fatalities. In some years there have been no reported injury accidents.

Other roads are the responsibility of individual highway authorities.

Records of the number of incidents where missiles have been specifically thrown from bridges on to the railway are not kept. However, since 1996–97 statistics of all incidents where the drivers' cab windows have been damaged due to missiles being thrown (not specifically from bridges) have been reportable under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR). During 1996–97 the total number of incidents was 468, of which 408 were malicious; during 1997–98 the totals were 619 and 512 respectively. Figures for previous years were not kept.

Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what engineering measures he proposes to protect the travelling public from missiles being thrown from parapets of bridges over(a) motorways, (b) other roads and (c) railways. [70272]

Ms Glenda Jackson

The Departmental standard for the design of highway bridge parapets requires that they are 1.2 m high on road bridges over other roads and 1.5 m high on road bridges over railways. Parapets on bridges over railways are normally clad with a close mesh or steel panelling. Missiles thrown from bridges are usually isolated incidences that it is impossible to prevent completely.

Where there is a repeated problem at a particular location then local measures such as raising the parapet height and using a solid infill to the parapet may help. The provision of CCTV cameras and police patrols may also be used in addition to these engineering measures.

The Health and Safety Executive has published "Railway Safety Principles and Guidance" for the promoters of new railways of bridges which gives specific guidance on the height of bridge parapets. The guidance also states: Where vandalism may be a problem, Parapets at least 1.8 m high or a totally enclosed structure may be necessary".

With regard existing bridges, many may not meet these guidelines. In such cases, the Health and Safety Executive would expect railway infrastructure owners to assess each bridge on its own merits, and, where a problem with vandalism may exist, take reasonable practicable measures to help prevent such incidents from occurring.

Road bridges not on the trunk road system are the responsibility of the appropriate highway authority.