HC Deb 15 June 2000 vol 351 c676W
Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many accidents arising from strikes on bridges recorded in the last two years have been(a) fatal, (b) minor and (c) serious; and what has been the cost in the last two years of road strikes on low bridges. [125587]

Mr. Hill

The number of injury accidents in Great Britain which involved a road vehicle striking the side or roof of any bridge are given in the following table for the two most recent years for which figures are available.

Fatal Serious Slight
1997 9 69 264
1998 14 67 282

Railtrack estimate that the annual cost of road strikes on low railway bridges is of the order of £10 million. This includes both the repair and delay costs, including those in damage-only accidents.

Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action the Government are taking in conjunction with(a) railway companies and (b) highway authorities to minimise damage to bridges caused by road vehicles striking low bridges. [125590]

Mr. Hill

Guidance has already been published on a range of measures to prevent bridge strikes, and regulations now require the height of the motor vehicle to be displayed in the cab, if the overall travelling height is in excess of three metres. The Department continues to chair the Bridge Strike Prevention Group which meets twice a year to discuss issues related to bridge strikes with the road transport industry, local authorities and bridge owners, to review trends and to encourage the adoption (and where appropriate the development) of new cost-effective measures to reduce the number and severity of bridge strikes.

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