§ Mr. MackayTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of whether the performance standards of barriers used on motorways and trunk roads in England and Wales are the same as those used in other EU countries; and if he will make a statement. [142780]
§ Dr. HowellsThe Highways Agency has carried out targeted investigations into performance standards of barriers at the approaches to bridges on motorways and trunk roads in England, and of the comparative performance standards in other EU countries. This found that some other EU countries require higher performance standards than England at these locations.
The Highways Agency is also aware that some other EU countries require higher performance standards than England for motorway and trunk road central reserve barriers. The Highways Agency is currently carrying out research into the potential safety-benefits and cost-effectiveness of increasing the current performance standard for central reserve barriers.