§ Lynne JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 15 January 2003,Official Report, column 625W, on road deaths, if he will make a statement on (a) the progress in monitoring the experiments in the Netherlands to reduce road deaths and (b) his Department's work with United Kingdom local authorities. [132140]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe new traffic arrangements at the various sites in north Holland were not, principally, introduced as casualty reduction schemes. The information that has been provided by the Dutch shows that casualty figures at all the revised sites are at the level of one or none per year. We are happy that, in the context that they are being used in Holland, these ideas do not result in increases in casualties.
The Department for Transport is aware of two authorities in this country that have been considering applying some of the measures used in north Holland, but as redevelopment rather than accident reduction measures. From informal discussions with the authorities, it is understood they are now considering more familiar techniques such as 20 mph speed limit zones. We have not been approached by any authorities planning to remove traffic signals.