Transport: Road Traffic

Lord Sheldon Excerpts

Monday 2nd July 2012 Lords Chamber

Asked by

[Lord Sheldon]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they have taken to improve the flow of road traffic in the United Kingdom.

[Earl Attlee]

My Lords, the Government provide funding and guidance to local authorities to support them in managing congestion on the local road network, including reducing the impact of roadworks. We have made better regulations to allow pioneer lane-rental schemes, are consulting on plans for roadworks permit schemes, and are increasing roadworks overrun charges. On the strategic road network, measures are being introduced to shorten the length of time that motorways are closed following incidents.

[Lord Sheldon]

I thank the noble Earl for that very useful Answer. However, the improvement of road traffic is much limited by more than 90% of all passenger transport. When there are rounds of crossroads, they reduce crashes by more than 50%, and stop signs at intersections have also reduced crashes dramatically by more than 50%. The other means that the noble Earl has put forward are very useful, but can he suggest how we are going to handle all these problems?