Road Signs and Markings
Q Asked by Lord Berkeley
Department for Transport – Road Signs and Markings (Asked on: 14 July 2016)
To ask Her Majesty’s Government who is responsible for ensuring that road signs on Highways England and local authority roads are visible, clean and not obscured by foliage; and how members of the public can report signs that fail to meet those standards.
A Answered by: Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Answered on: 21 July 2016)
Highways England is responsible for maintaining the road traffic signs on the Strategic Road Network (SRN). This duty is discharged through contractors who maintain the signs in accordance with Highways England standards.
Any defects can be reported via the Highways England Customer Contact Centreinfo@highwaysengland.co.uk or by telephone on 0300 123 5000.
Local highway authorities have a duty under Section 41 of the Highways Act 1980 to maintain the highways network, including traffic signs, in their area.
The Department for Transport encourages local highway authorities to provide facilities, through their websites or mobile phone apps, for members of the public to report defects on the highway they are responsible for.
Speed Limits: Cameras
Q Asked by Jim Fitzpatrick
Department for Transport – Speed Limits: Cameras (Asked on: 18 July 2016)
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent research his Department has conducted on (a) the merits of static speed cameras and (b) the effect of conspicuously marking such cameras on their effectiveness.
A Answered by: Andrew Jones (Answered on: 21 July 2016)
The Department published “The national safety camera programme: Four-year evaluation report” in December 2005. The Road Safety Observatory, of which the Department is a member, published “Effectiveness Of Speed Cameras In Preventing Road Traffic Collisions And Related Casualties: Systematic Review” in March 2013. No research has been carried out of the effect of conspicuously marking cameras.
Safety at Railway Stations in Greater London
Q Asked by Jim Shannon
Department for Transport – Railway Stations: Greater London (Asked on: 13 July 2016)
Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to improve the safety of passengers at train stations in London.
A Answered by: Paul Maynard (Answered on: 20 July 2016)
We are working with train operators inside and outside of London, including through franchising arrangements, so that they maintain or increase the number of the stations which have been awarded ‘Secure Station’ status. The Secure Stations scheme is managed by the Department for Transport (DfT) and British Transport Police (BTP), and sets station design and management standards. It is aimed at:
- preventing and reducing crime and disorder, providing a safer environment for passengers and staff;
- increasing passenger numbers;
- reducing costs of repair following vandalism, graffiti, etc., and of lost staff time due to distress or injury.
DfT is also currently working with the BTP to review and refresh the Secure Stations scheme to ensure that it continues to drive up standards, covers wider aspects of station security and that it reflects recent changes to the operating structure of the rail industry.
Safety on unadopted roads
Q Asked by Maggie Throup
Department for Transport – Roads (Asked on: 12 July 2016)
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to improve the maintenance and safety of unadopted roads.
A Answered by: Andrew Jones (Answered on: 18 July 2016)
The maintenance and safety of unadopted roads or private streets are the responsibility of the land owner. The decision on whether or not local authorities adopt roads, and therefore maintain them at the public expense, rests with each individual local highway authority.
To help improve the process around road adoption for new developments, my department has been working with housebuilders and local authorities on the production of an Advice Note. This was published for consultation in January 2016 and the final version should be published later this year.
Taxi and private hire vehicle regulation
Q Asked by Baroness Randerson
Department for Transport – Taxis (Asked on: 04 July 2016)
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to introduce legislation to modernise the regulation of taxis and private hire vehicles.
A Answered by: Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Answered on: 12 July 2016)
The Government has no current plans to introduce primary legislation to modernise the regulation of taxis and private hire vehicles.
Road Suicides
Q Asked by Lilian Greenwood
Department for Transport – Roads: Suicide (Asked on: 07 July 2016)
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 25 February 2016 to Question 27762, on roads: suicide, how many suicides or attempted suicides have been recorded on the Strategic Road Network in 2016 up to the most recent period for which figures are available.
A Answered by: Andrew Jones (Answered on: 12 July 2016)
Highways England’s systems are used to record incidents that occur on the Strategic Road Network.
Between 1 January 2016 and 30 June 2016, the number of incidents defined as either suicide or attempted suicide was 568.
Road Accident crash sites
Q Asked by Baroness Byford
Department for Transport – Roads: Accidents (Asked on: 27 June 2016)
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether companies employed to remove crashed vehicles have a legal obligation to collect detached parts of the vehicles from hedgerows, ditches and property around crash sites.
A Answered by: Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Answered on: 11 July 2016)
The company employed by Highways England in respect of vehicle recoveries does not have a legal obligation to remove debris from, or around, the strategic road network.
