HC Deb 13 June 2003 vol 406 cc171-2W
Mr. Don Foster

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the function of motorway hard shoulders as defined by(a) departmental guidance and (b) legislation. [115705]

Mr. Jamieson

There is no departmental guidance on the function of motorway hard shoulders. The Highway Code (Para. 238) states thatyou must not drive on the hard shoulder except in an emergency or if directed to do so by signs". The legislation covering the use of the hard shoulder is the Motorways Traffic (England and Wales) Regulations 1982. These do not set out the function of the hard shoulder but describe what it is and under what circumstances it may be used, which are as set out in the Highway Code.

Mr. Don Foster

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research has been conducted and commissioned(a) by his Department and (b) by the Highways Agency on the effect of hard shoulders on the (i) numbers and (ii) severity of accidents; and what main conclusions were reached by these studies. [115706]

Mr. Jamieson

Neither the Department for Transport nor the Highways Agency has conducted or commissioned research on the effect of hard shoulders on the numbers and severity of accidents. However, the Highways Agency has carried out research on hard shoulder discontinuities such as pinch points near bridges resulting from motorway widening schemes. This research has shown that there is no statistically significant difference in accident rates at hard shoulder discontinuities.

Mr. Don Foster

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reasons the motorway hard shoulder running trial will be extended to other motorways prior to the completion of the trial on the M42. [115711]

Mr. Jamieson

No decisions have been taken on extending active traffic management to sections of the motorway network beyond the pilot study announced for the M42. But as the motoring organisations have argued further trials at other sites would be required before hard shoulder running could be applied more generally. Such trials could be run in parallel with the M42 study.

Mr. Don Foster

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consultation(a) has taken place and (b) is planned relating to hard shoulder running on motorways; and if he will make a statement. [115799]

Mr. Jamieson

No statutory consultation is required. But in developing the M42 Active Traffic Management study, which will include part-time use of the hard shoulder as a running lane under carefully controlled conditions, ongoing consultation is taking place with stakeholders including motoring organisations and the emergency services.