Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 24 October (HL2259), what is their assessment of the views of Brake that regular eye tests for drivers could cut the number of casualties on roads, and whether they will reconsider using variable message signs on motorways and other major roads as a contribution to reducing road accidents.

I refer the Noble Lord to my previous answer of 24 October, which stated Highways England uses electronic variable message signs primarily to advise drivers of immediate safety issues and journey information. Highways England is not therefore seeking to use signs to raise awareness of general driver health issues and will not be displaying messages to encourage drivers to have their eyesight tested.

Britain’s roads are very safe by all international comparisons. We remain second only to Sweden in terms of global road safety, with 2014 witnessing the third lowest number of road deaths since records began.