HC Deb 03 December 2002 vol 395 c667W
Miss McIntosh

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures he plans to take to reduce congestion on motorways; and what research he has conducted into the change in the speed of motorway traffic since 1998. [84243]

Mr. Jamieson

"Transport 2010: The Ten Year Plan" sets out our vision for a fairer and more effective transport system, while the Highways Agency's "Strategic Roads 2010" sets out the framework for delivering the strategic road network elements of the plan, which includes reducing congestion across the strategic motorway and trunk road network. This needs to be considered in the context of measures to improve other forms of transport, which will also contribute to delivery of the congestion target.

Pilot studies to actively manage the traffic and make better use of the existing road space will be undertaken, and where necessary, programmes of works such as the Targeted Programme of Improvements and the recently announced 92 priority junction schemes will be delivered. Both will provide increased capacity and improve conditions on the network.

To help deliver the reduction in congestion, the Highways Agency is also developing its role as a traffic manager to help motorists deal with congestion on motorways and other strategic routes, and has appointed a director whose prime purpose is to take this role forward. A number of initiatives are being pursued. These include the Traffic Control Centre project that will provide advice to motorists about travel conditions on the trunk road network, allowing them to plan their journeys more effectively to avoid congestion. In conjunction with the Police and other emergency services, the Agency is improving the way it deals with accidents and incidents on the network so that they are dealt with more effectively, reducing the time roads are disrupted to minimise congestion.

The Department for Transport has monitored trunk road and motorway speeds in 1995, 1998 and 2001. Surveys show that while, in general, overall speeds have fallen since 1995, average speeds on motorways were 2.5 mph faster in 2001 in the morning peak period when compared to the equivalent speeds in the 1998 survey. In the evening peak, they were 3.3 mph faster.

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