Monday 25 January 2010
Driving Offences
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in Northern Ireland were convicted of (a) a motoring offence that resulted in a fatality and (b) careless driving in each of the last two years. [312404]
Paul Goggins: Table 1 gives the number of convictions for motoring offences causing death, while Table 2 gives convictions for careless driving (and related offences).
Data cover the calendar years 2005 and 2006 (the latest years for which figures are available) and are collated on the principal offence rule; so only the most serious offence with which an offender is charged is included.
Table 1: Number of convictions for motoring offences causing death 2005 and 2006
Number
2005
9
2006
13
Table 2: Number of convictions for careless driving/driving without due care and attention 2005 and 2006( 1,2)
Number
2005
1,597
2006
1,458
(1) Includes convictions for the offences ‘driving without reasonable consideration for others’, ’cause grievous bodily injury by driving carelessly when unfit’ and causing grievous bodily injury by driving carelessly with excess alcohol’.
(2) Excludes careless driving offences causing death and dangerous driving offences.
Roads: Accidents
Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport which 50 stretches of road have the highest rates of (a) accidents and (b) fatal accidents; and how many (a) accidents and (b) fatal accidents have taken place on each of these stretches in each of the last 10 years. [312711]
Paul Clark: The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
However, Eurorap have carried out some work in this area where the most dangerous motorways and A roads in GB are identified. The report can be downloaded at:
http://www.eurorap.org/media/177737/RRM%20Britain%2006-10.pdf
Roads: Safety
Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what local transport notes have been provided to local highways authorities on the use of guard railing in residential streets. [311792]
Mr. Khan: Local Transport Note 2/09 “Pedestrian Guardrailing” was issued by the Department for Transport in April 2009. It can be found at:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/tpm/ltnotes/ltn209pedestrian.pdf
Driving Offences
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people in each region were convicted of (a) a motoring offence that resulted in a fatality and (b) careless driving in 2008. [312319]
Mr. Alan Campbell: The Ministry of Justice advise that court proceedings data for 2008 are planned for publication on 28 January 2010.
Driving Offences
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many (a) males and (b) females in each age group who were prosecuted for speeding offences were subsequently found to be without (i) insurance and (ii) a valid driving licence in each of the last two years. [311191]
Road Traffic Offences: Fines
Mr. Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what average fine was imposed for each type of (a) summary non-motoring offence, (b) summary motoring offence and (c) indictable offence in 2008. [310965]
Mr. Straw: Court proceedings data for 2008 are planned for publication on 28 January 2010.
The average fine imposed at all courts by type of offence, England and Wales, 2007 (latest available) can be viewed in the following table:
Average fine amounts imposed at all courts by type of offence, England and Wales, 2007
All offenders( 1) Average amount (£)
Indictable offences
Violence against the person
237
Sexual offences
285
Burglary
161
Robbery
73
Theft and handling stolen goods
105
Fraud and forgery
286
Criminal damage
126
Drug offences
112
Other (excluding motoring offences)
1,159
Motoring offences
319
Total
428
Summary offences
Summary offences (excluding motoring offences)
130
Summary motoring offences
175
Total
158
All offences
172
(1) Includes ‘other’ offenders, i.e. companies, public bodies, etc. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services-Ministry of Justice.
Tuesday 26 January 2010
Cycling: Fines
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many fines for cycling on pavements have been issued in each local highway authority area in each of the last five years. [312418]
Claire Ward: The available information is provided in the following table.
Sentencing Statistics 2008 will be published on 28 January 2010.
The figures which we have provided are shown by police force area and not by local highway authority, because the courts proceeding database does not hold this information.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmhansrd/cm100126/text/100126w0003.htm#10012655000021
These figures have been drawn from administrative data systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system.
These data are presented on the principal offence basis: where an offender has been sentenced for more than one offence the principal offence is the one for which the heaviest sentence was imposed; where the same sentence has been imposed for two or more offences the principal offence is the one for which the statutory maximum is most severe.
Driving Offences
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people have been convicted of driving without insurance in each justice administrative area in each year since 1997. [312785]
Claire Ward: The number of persons found guilty at all courts in England and Wales for using a motor vehicle uninsured against third party risks, by police force area, from 1997 to 2007 (latest available) is shown in the following table.
Court proceedings data for 2008 are planned for publication on 28 January 2010.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmhansrd/cm100126/text/100126w0004.htm
Driving Offences: Birmingham
Mr. Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many (a) hit and run accidents, (b) hit and run accidents in which the driver did not have insurance and (c) hit and run drivers taken to court there were in Birmingham, Sparkbrook and Small Heath constituency in each of the last three years. [312199]
Claire Ward: Data on the number of reported hit and run personal injury road accidents in the Birmingham, Sparkbrook and Small Heath constituency provided by the Department for Transport (DfT) from 2005 to 2008 are shown in table 1. The DfT do not collect information centrally on uninsured drivers involved in hit and run accidents.
Information available on the Ministry of Justice Court Proceedings Database cannot identify those defendants, proceeded against for offences of using a motor vehicle uninsured against third party risks that have been involved in a hit and run accident.
The number of persons ‘proceeded against at magistrates’ courts for the offence of ‘failing to stop after an accident’ in the west midlands police force area, from 2005 to 2007 (latest available) is shown in table 2.
Court proceedings data are not available at parliamentary constituency level, therefore information is given for the west midlands police force area in which the Birmingham, Sparkbrook and Small Heath constituency is located.
Data for 2008 are planned for publication on 28 January 2010.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmhansrd/cm100126/text/100126w0005.htm
Driving Offences: Closed Circuit Television
Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport if he will place in the Library a copy of (a) the code of practice for operation of CCTV enforcement cameras and (b) a code of practice for bus lane camera enforcement using attended CCTV equipment for approved English local authorities outside London. [311788]
Mr. Khan: With regard to the guidance we have issued on the use of CCTV for civil parking enforcement, I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst (Robert Neill) on 6 January 2010, Official Report, column 330W.
Civil bus lane enforcement in England outside London relies exclusively on evidence from CCTV. I have arranged for a copy of the provisional guidance on bus lane (including tramway) enforcement in England outside London to be placed in the Libraries of the House.
The Department for Transport has not issued any other codes of practice on CCTV traffic enforcement, but many local traffic authorities have done so.
Driving Offences: Crime Prevention
Mr. Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what recent steps his Department has taken to reduce the number of people who drive (a) whilst using a mobile telephone, (b) without wearing a seat belt, (c) whilst disqualified and (d) without insurance; and if he will make a statement. [313147]
Paul Clark: The information requested is as follows:
(a) The Department increased the penalty for drivers using a mobile phone to include three penalty points from February 2007. A publicity campaign ran in May 2009 which included a TV commercial and online activity. A new radio campaign warned younger drivers of the dangers of texting while driving.
(b) The Home Office increased the fixed penalty for not using a seat belt to £60 from 30 June 2009. A publicity campaign ran in November 2008 which included a new TV commercial also shown in cinemas, two new radio commercials with online activity and outdoor advertising on petrol pump nozzles and car park barriers. A further campaign will run throughout February 2010.
(c) The Department does all that it can to assist the police and the courts in detecting and prosecuting cases of unlicensed driving including driving while disqualified. A critical step has been the provision to the police of 24 hour access to accurate and up-to-date driver licensing information (including a photograph where appropriate) at the roadside to assist detection and enforcement. There are also good IT links between the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency and the courts to assist in effective prosecution of offenders.
(d) The Home Office introduced a new offence in August 2008 of “causing death by driving while unlicensed, disqualified or uninsured” which carries a custodial sentence of up to two years. The Road Safety Act 2006 introduced a new offence of being a registered keeper of a vehicle for which there is no valid motor insurance, to be enforced by a procedure of continuous insurance enforcement. Further regulations are required to bring these provisions into force. The Department plans to commence delivery of the scheme in 2010-11 starting with an initial publicity campaign to raise public awareness.
Driving: Licenses
Anne Milton: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what mechanisms exist to ensure that the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency’s enforcement policy is (a) proportionate, (b) transparent, (c) consistent and (d) accountable. [313328]
Paul Clark: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency’s (DVLA) enforcement strategy seeks to maximise collection of vehicle excise duty (VED) at minimum cost and includes proportionate action against non-compliance. DVLA enforcement activities are provided for in law and steered by a cross-Government board which meets every quarter, keeping the approach under review. The agency’s enforcement and compliance systems make it more convenient than ever to pay VED but very difficult to evade. The latest national statistics estimate that DVLA collects 99.4 per cent. of all VED payable.
DVLA also operates the Registration of Number Plate Suppliers scheme, educating suppliers of the rules and taking action against those who break the law. A recent Hampton Implementation Review by the Department for Business Innovation and Skills concluded that DVLA demonstrated good overall compliance with the Hampton principles.
Roads: Accidents
Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many persons injured in road traffic accidents did not receive full compensation for injuries sustained in cases where the driver of the vehicle at fault was not insured in each of the last five years. [313116]
Paul Clark: There is no information held on this specific aspect. The Motor Insurers Bureau compensates people injured in road traffic accidents caused by uninsured or untraced drivers. Compensation claims are assessed and settled on the circumstances of each case.
Roads: Lighting
Mr. Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what legislative provisions in respect of street lighting are in force; what changes there have been to such legislation since its enactment; and if he will make a statement. [313273]
Mr. Khan: There are a number of legislative provisions that apply in respect of street lighting, starting with the Towns Improvement Clauses Act of 1847. A searchable database of current legislation can be found at:
http://www.statutelaw.gov.uk
Mr. Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what recent guidance his Department has issued to local authorities on the renewal of street lighting; and if he will make a statement. [313276]
Mr. Khan: The Department has not issued any guidance to local authorities on the renewal of street lighting. We have issued guidance in relation to the current bidding round for street lighting PFI. This can be found on the DFT website at:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/regional/streetlightingpfi
Driving Offences: Fines
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much revenue from fines for motoring offences in (a) Southend-on-Sea, (b) Essex and (c) England and Wales arising from detection by speed cameras was paid into the Consolidated Fund (i) directly and (ii) from surpluses of safety camera partnerships in each of the last 10 years; what recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on this matter; and if he will make a statement. [313155]
Mr. Alan Campbell: Information reported to the Home Office on fixed penalty notices for motoring offences as well as data on court fines held by the Ministry of Justice does not include information on revenues as not all fines imposed will have been paid.
Data provided by the Department for Transport showing the fine receipts and surplus for the National Safety Camera Programme from 2000-01 to 2006-07 (when the programme ended) is provided by the table.
The National Safety Camera Programme was rolled out to 38 safety camera partnerships in England and Wales between 2001 and 2004 and had a distinct function-to strengthen detection, enforcement and deterrence of speeding and red light offences at places on the road network with particular problems.
All the fine receipts in the table are paid into the consolidated fund. Data have been provided for Essex and England and Wales only as the data reported to the Department for Transport are provided at police force area level only.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmhansrd/cm100126/text/100126w0022.htm#10012685000033
Driving Under Influence
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what percentage of people of each (a) age, (b) ethnicity and (c) gender stopped for drink driving (i) tested positive and (ii) refused to provide a breath test in (A) each police authority area and (B) England and Wales in each of the last five years. [312417]
Mr. Alan Campbell: The information available can be found in the following tables.
The Breath Tests statistics on how many and what percentage of people of each (a) age, (b) ethnicity and (c) gender stopped for drink driving are not reported to the Home Office and therefore we are unable to provide this data.
Additionally, data are provided on the number of breath tests ‘positive or refused’ as it is not possible to separate positive breath tests and refused breath tests from the information reported to the Home Office.
Wednesday 27 January 2010
Driving Offences
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average fine given to a person convicted of driving without insurance was in each justice administrative area in each year since 1997. [312817]
Claire Ward: The number of average fines imposed at all courts in England and Wales for using a motor vehicle uninsured against third party risks, by police force area, from 1997 to 2007 (latest available) is given in the table.
Court proceedings data for 2008 are planned for publication on 28 January 2010.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmhansrd/cm100127/text/100127w0001.htm#10012763000023
Thursday 28 January 2010
Speed Cameras
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what proposals he has to install further speed cameras on the motorway network. [313726]
Paul Clark: Speed cameras are used on the motorway network to improve the safety of the travelling public and road workers.
The Highways Agency are planning to deliver 19 Managed and Controlled Motorway schemes by March 2015.
Rail Safety and Standards Board: Research
Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what research the Rail Safety and Standards Board is undertaking; and how much that research (a) has cost to date and (b) is estimated to cost in total on completion. [314077]
Chris Mole: The strategic research programme was launched by the Department for Transport in September 2008. Details of the research being undertaken are published on the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) website at:
www.rssb.co.uk
The specific costs of research are a matter for the RSSB and the hon. Member should contact:
Len Porter
Chief Executive
Rail Safety and Standards Board
Block 2
Angel Square
1 Torrens Street
London
EC1V 1NY
The Minister announced that the cost to complete the strategic research programme is £15 million from spring 2009 and will run for five and a half years.
Speed Limits: Cameras
Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport for what reasons the Highways Agency has installed a speed camera on the A46 southbound near the Carholme roundabout at Lincoln; and what criteria were used to determine the location of such a camera. [313421]
Chris Mole: The safety camera was installed in 1998 by Lincolnshire police following a number of accidents at the location. This was prior to the introduction of national guidance about the installation of safety cameras. The camera is now managed by the Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership and its operation is reviewed at six monthly intervals.
Roads: Traffic Lights
Question asked by Lord Dykes
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to introduce flashing orange traffic light modes on quiet junctions in the early night hours. [HL1339]
The Secretary of State for Transport (Lord Adonis): The Department for Transport has no plans to allow the use of flashing orange traffic lights on quiet junctions during early night hours. The flashing amber traffic light signal is reserved for use at pelican crossings in the United Kingdom. Using a flashing amber traffic light at junctions also raises safety concerns, particularly with regard to vulnerable pedestrians who rely on the protection afforded by a red traffic light. The preferred safer method for avoiding unnecessary delays at quieter times is to use responsive traffic light systems, which detect and adapt to traffic conditions.
Friday 29 January 2010
Cycling: Helmets
Mr. Bone: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what assessment he has made of the safety case for children to wear cycle helmets. [313813]
Paul Clark: The Department commissioned a research project on cyclists’ road safety, which included a new review of cycle helmet effectiveness.
The review concludes that, assuming cycle helmets are a good fit and worn correctly they should be effective at reducing the risk of head injury, in particular cranium fracture, scalp injury and intracranial (brain) injury for users of all ages but would be expected to be particularly effective for children.
The full review of the evidence was published on 15 December 2009 and can be found online at:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roadsafety/research/rsrr/theme1/ppr446.pdf
Motorways: Road Traffic
Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what modelling the Government has done on the use of hard shoulder running; and if he will place a copy in the Library of the outcomes of such modelling. [313002]
Chris Mole: The Department for Transport has modelled the use of hard shoulder running in its National Transport Model (NTM). The outcomes of this analysis were presented in “The Advanced Motorway Signalling and Traffic Management Feasibility Study” which, together with its technical annex, were published in March 2008.
These two documents are available on the Department’s website at:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/network/policy/mtorsigntrafmanagement/
The key modelling impacts presented in this analysis were also published as part of “Road Transport Forecasts 2008: Results from the Department for Transport’s National Transport Model”, which is available at:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/economics/ntm/roadtransportforcasts08/
The Department announced the inclusion of a number of new hard shoulder running schemes in its major schemes programme on 15 January 2009 in “Britain’s Transport Infrastructure Motorways and Major Trunk Roads”.
This report, which also contains details of the modelling outcomes, is available on the Department’s website at:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/network/policy/motorways/
Copies of these reports have been placed in the Libraries of the House.
Rapid Transit Systems: Accidents
Dr. Starkey: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport which body has responsibility for (a) investigating accidents causing (i) injuries and (ii) fatalities on guided busways and (b) making recommendations for action in consequence. [312631]
Mr. Khan: It is the responsibility of the operator of a guided busway to satisfy itself that safety systems are appropriate.
The police would take the lead in any investigation of an accident involving guided buses in the same way as any other road traffic incident.
The police may refer cases or liaise with the Vehicle Operator Services Agency and the Health and Safety Executive where evidence indicates that serious health and safety management failures have significantly contributed to an incident and these cannot be addressed by road traffic legislation.
Roads: Lighting
Mr. Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how much his Department has contributed to funding for the renewal of street lighting in each year since 1997; what guidance his Department issues on criteria for the renewal of street lighting; and if he will make a statement. [313274]
Mr. Khan: This Department for Transport provides capital funding to local authorities for maintenance of their highways, which they can use for the renewal of their street lighting assets. The level of local transport plan funding to local authorities in England (excluding London) for highway maintenance for each year since its introduction since 2001, and its predecessor the Transport Supplementary Grant, is given as follows.
In addition this Department has provided PFI credits for local authority street lighting projects. 24 projects are operational with a further five in procurement. The table below lists the awards to local authorities in the year they reached financial close, including awards to London authorities.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmhansrd/cm100129/text/100129w0003.htm
Roads: Snow and Ice
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what criteria were used to determine the distribution of salt during the recent severe weather conditions; and if he will make a statement. [313931]
Mr. Khan: Recommendations to salt producers by the Salt Cell on prioritisation of deliveries take into account highways authorities’ existing stocks; recommended reductions in gritting rates; planned deliveries from suppliers and mutual aid between authorities; and forecast weather, three to four days ahead.
Mr. Lancaster: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many snow ploughs provided by his Department were in operation in Milton Keynes in December 2009 and January 2010. [313948]
Mr. Khan: The Highways Agency had four salt spreading vehicles equipped with plough-blades that were in operation through Milton Keynes in December 2009 and January 2010. Two of these vehicles operated on the A5 and the other two vehicles on the M1.
Winter service provision on local authority roads is a matter for Milton Keynes Council. The Department for Transport does not provide snow ploughs or other equipment.
Jo Swinson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what recent discussions he has had with local authorities in England on the sharing of road salt supplies so as to ensure that the areas worst affected have access to salt. [314400]
Mr. Khan: The Department for Transport, the Scottish Government and the Welsh Assembly Government have been regularly monitoring salt supplies and stock levels across Great Britain with the help of their agencies, local authorities and the companies which supply salt. The monitoring involved the Department and Government regional offices having regular discussions with local authorities.
The Government and the devolved Administrations with the support of the Local Government Associations for England, Wales, Transport Scotland and Transport for London decided that due to the exceptional weather they should work in partnership to advise salt suppliers on priorities for deliveries across Great Britain.
©TRL (Transport Research Laboratory)
