Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to improve road safety on the A12 from Junction 28 of the M25 to Ipswich.

The Highways Agency takes road safety very seriously and they monitor the safety of the A12 trunk road as well as all other routes on the strategic road network.

The Agency is committed to delivering four safety improvement schemes on the A12 this financial year valued at approximately £2.1million. Two of these are being delivered through the national Pinch Point Programme.

Tackling congestion and improving the performance of the strategic road network is also a key factor to improving safety. The Highways Agency is continuing to develop Stage 2 of the East of England Route Strategy, which includes the A12, and is due to be completed by spring 2015. Following completion of evidence gathering Stage 1 in April, the Agency is now undertaking a series of studies based on that evidence which will form outline business cases for tackling congestion, improving performance and ultimately improving safety on the strategic road network.