Asked by: Lord Hampton (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have plans to form an independent crash investigation unit for bus safety incidents where serious injury or death has or might have occurred, based on the Rail Accident Investigation Branch, Air Accidents Investigation Branch, and Marine Accident Investigation Branch.
Answered by Lord Davies of Gower - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
We have no plans to form an independent investigation unit specifically for bus safety incidents. However, as Lord Hampton is aware, the Automated Vehicles Bill includes measures for the Secretary of State to appoint ‘inspectors of automated vehicle incidents’. These inspectors will have the necessary powers to conduct safety investigation on self-driving vehicles to ultimately increase road safety across the transport mode. If it was the case that a self-driving vehicle was involved in an incident with a bus, or the bus was self-driving, then these inspectors could investigate it.
More widely, our National Bus Strategy, published in 2021, made clear that the bus sector must strive for the highest safety standards, upheld by the Traffic Commissioners. The Strategy required all Local Transport Authorities (LTAs) to publish a local Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP). The Department was clear that BSIPs should include plans on how LTAs and local bus operators will work together to ensure that bus services are safe and perceived to be safe by all. This may include measures such as appropriate passenger safety training for bus drivers to deal with emergency situations on or off the bus, and encouraging bus operators to liaise with local police and other stakeholders to address safety concerns.
Asked by: Lord Hampton (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with local authorities about any revenue generated from Low Traffic Neighbourhoods, and any plans they may have for using that revenue to improve cycling infrastructure.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Department for Transport has not had any such discussions. Vehicle access restrictions used to create a Local Traffic Neighbourhoods are implemented and enforced using existing prescribed traffic signs. These are enforceable in the same way and with the same penalties as when used on any other part of the road network.
The use of any surplus revenue is strictly ring-fenced in legislation towards covering enforcement costs, specified local authority-funded local transport schemes, or road improvement and environmental measures.