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Lord Bassam of Brighton
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Bassam of Brighton, Lord (153)
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What are the educational initiatives targeted at 14 to 18 year-old road users within each local highway authority area in 2006-07 and 2007-08; and what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of the initiatives in connection with young road users.
What are the educational initiatives targeted at 14 to 18 year-old road users within each local highway authority area in 2006-07 and 2007-08; and what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of the initiatives in connection with young road users.
Asked by
Earl of Dundee
(Conservative)
Answered by
Lord Bassam of Brighton
(Labour)
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Answered on
29 September 2008
Reducing accidents involving 14 to 18 year-old road users is a key issue for the department. Currently a variety of organisations, including the department, the Driving Standards Agency, local authorities, schools, the police and fire services, and voluntary bodies provide educational initiatives aimed at improving the safety of young people on Britain’s roads. No central record of initiatives or activities is maintained.
The department believes there is considerable variability in the nature, quality, content and provision of these road safety education initiatives aimed at young people. In 2007, the department published the results from a one-off survey of pre-driver education provision in local authorities and other organisations in 2006-07. This survey, available at www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roadsafety/research/rsrr/theme2/predrivereducationsurvey.pdf found that a number of pre-driver education initiatives had not been evaluated. The department also published a review of the literature on the effectiveness of pre-driver education, available at www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roadsafety/research/rsrr/theme2/predrivereducation.pdf. The research found that generally there was limited evidence of the effectiveness of pre-driver education.
In order to develop a strategic framework for road safety education for children and young people, the department has recently commissioned a project to review existing materials and then produce a comprehensive set of road safety educational material. It is intended that these resources will cover everything from the time young people first start using the roads to becoming drivers, for all age groups.
Notes
Answer received between Tuesday 5 August and Monday 11 August 2008
Subjects
Education; Young people; Safety; Roads
Date
29 September 2008
Reference
5201; 703 c330WA
House
House of Lords
What plans they have to include any evaluation in the current road safety programme of the Department for Transport in connection with young road users.
What plans they have to include any evaluation in the current road safety programme of the Department for Transport in connection with young road users.
Asked by
Earl of Dundee
(Conservative)
Answered by
Lord Bassam of Brighton
(Labour)
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Answered on
29 September 2008
The Department for Transport is developing a new road safety strategy for Great Britain, for the period beyond 2010. In that context, the department is considering how current policies impact upon young road users.
The department has also engaged EdComs—a marketing company specialising in the education field—to develop over three years a comprehensive set of educational materials to reflect the needs of different age groups.
Also relevant is the Driving Standards Agency’s current consultation on the reform of driver training and testing. This includes a proposal to introduce a pre-driver qualification in safe-road use which would be suitable for all road users (http://learningtodrive.dsa.gov.uk/pages/home). The consultation runs until 8 September 2008.
Notes
Answer received between Tuesday 5 August and Monday 11 August 2008
Subjects
Education; Young people; Safety; Roads
Date
29 September 2008
Reference
5202; 703 c330-1WA
House
House of Lords
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have any plans to extend charges for road use.
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have any plans to extend charges for road use.
Asked by
Lord Dubs
(Labour)
Answered by
Lord Bassam of Brighton
(Labour)
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Answered on
16 July 2008
I refer the noble Lord to the Statement, Roads—Delivering Choice and Reliability, that I made today and the command paper presented to Parliament by the Secretary of State for Transport to which that referred.
Subjects
Roads; Tolls
Date
16 July 2008
Reference
4180; 703 c172WA
House
House of Lords
In respect of each local authority road scheme under construction or with full approval, what is (a) the estimated cost at full approval stage; (b) the benefit to cost ratio at full approval stage; (c) the current estimated gross cost of completion; and (d) the benefit to cost ratio using...
In respect of each local authority road scheme under construction or with full approval, what is (a) the estimated cost at full approval stage; (b) the benefit to cost ratio at full approval stage; (c) the current estimated gross cost of completion; and (d) the benefit to cost ratio using...
Asked by
Lord Berkeley
(Labour)
Answered by
Lord Bassam of Brighton
(Labour)
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Answered on
16 July 2008
Information on (a) and (c) is available in a table which has recently been published on the Department for Transport's website at the following weblink at: www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/regional/ltp/major/majorscheme.pdf.
On (b), the following table lists the benefit to cost ratios (BCR) of the local authority road schemes that are either under construction or at full approval stage. The schemes were appraised in different years and due to changes in the Government’s appraisal methodology during this period, the BCRs reported have not all been calculated on the same basis, so they are not directly comparable between schemes.
Information on (d), the benefit to cost ratio using the current estimated gross cost of completion, is not available.
| Scheme Name | Local Authority | Benefit to Cost Ratio (BCR) at Full Approval |
| Selly Oak Relief Road | Birmingham City Council | 2.8 |
| A6096 Ilkeston-Awsworth Link | Derbyshire County Council | 2.37 |
| East Leeds Link Road | Leeds City Council | 2.9 |
| Leeds Inner Ring Road—Stage 7 | Leeds City Council | 10.6 |
| Tunstall Northern Bypass | Stoke-on-Trent Council | 3.5 |
| Markham Vale (aka Markham Employment Growth Zone) | Derbyshire County Council | 2.85 |
| A631—West Bawtry Road Improvements | Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council | 8.5 |
| A66 Darlington Eastern Transport Corridor | Darlington City Council | 4.38 |
| Brierley Hill Access Network | Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council | 5.6 |
| M4 Junction 11 (Green Park Improvements) and Mereoak Roundabout | Reading Borough Council | 7.68 |
| Hemsworth to A1 Link | Wakefield Metropolitan Borough Council | 2.7 |
| Glasshoughton Coalfields Link Road | Wakefield Metropolitan Borough Council | 3.1 |
| Owen Street Level Crossing Relief Road | Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council | 2.69 |
| Rugby Western Relief Road | Warwickshire County Council | 5.13 |
| A688 Wheatley Hill to Bowburn Link Road | Durham County Council | 3.7 |
| A47 Earl Shilton Bypass | Leicestershire County Council | 5.6 |
| A1073—Spalding to Eye Improvement Scheme | Lincolnshire County Council | 4.85 |
| North Middlesbrough Accessibility Improvements | North Middlesbrough Council | 6.29 |
| B1115—Stowmarket Relief Road | Suffolk County Council | 2.63 |
| Ridgmont Bypass and Woburn Link Road | Bedfordshire County Council | 4.3 |
| A6 Bedford Western Bypass | Bedfordshire County Council | 3.6 |
Subjects
Costs; Construction; Cost benefit analysis; Roads
Date
16 July 2008
Reference
4742; 703 c172-4WA
House
House of Lords
Whether they will reimburse local authorities for the £671 million cost increases on current road schemes managed by local authorities.
Whether they will reimburse local authorities for the £671 million cost increases on current road schemes managed by local authorities.
Asked by
Lord Berkeley
(Labour)
Answered by
Lord Bassam of Brighton
(Labour)
Oral questions - Lead
Status
Answered
Procedure
Topical questions (HL)
For answer on
10 July 2008
Answered on
10 July 2008
My Lords, responsibility for developing local major scheme proposals, including preparing robust scheme cost estimates, lies with local authorities. Ministers will consider cost increases for local road and public transport schemes at the appropriate approval stage, in line with the criteria set out in the department’s local authority major scheme guidance.
Subjects
Costs; Construction; Increases; Local government; Roads
Date
10 July 2008
Reference
703 c848
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, responsibility for developing local major scheme proposals, including preparing robust scheme cost estimates, lies with local authorities. Ministers will consider cost increases for local road and public transport schemes at the appropriate approval stage, in line with the criteria set out in the department’s local authority major scheme guidance.
My Lords, responsibility for developing local major scheme proposals, including preparing robust scheme cost estimates, lies with local authorities. Ministers will consider cost increases for local road and public transport schemes at the appropriate approval stage, in line with the criteria set out in the department’s local authority major scheme guidance.
Answered by
Lord Bassam of Brighton
(Labour)
Asked by
Lord Berkeley
(Labour)
Type
Oral answers to questions
Whether they will reimburse local authorities for the £671 million cost increases on current road schemes managed by local authorities.
Subjects
Costs; Construction; Increases; Local government; Roads
Date
10 July 2008
Reference
703 c848
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, very clear guidance is issued to local authorities about schemes that are brought forward through quantified risk assessment. Local authorities also have to produce a sort of risk register for any scheme that they want to take forward. For schemes submitted to the department for programme entry from April 2006, the department now requires local authorities to agree to contribute a minimum of 10 per cent towards the estimated total scheme cost, 50 per cent of any increase up to an approved scheme cost and 100 per cent of any increase above that figure. The incentives are there.
My Lords, very clear guidance is issued to local authorities about schemes that are brought forward through quantified risk assessment. Local authorities also have to produce a sort of risk register for any scheme that they want to take forward. For schemes submitted to the department for programme entry from April 2006, the department now requires local authorities to agree to contribute a minimum of 10 per cent towards the estimated total scheme cost, 50 per cent of any increase up to an approved scheme cost and 100 per cent of any increase above that figure. The incentives are there.
Answered by
Lord Bassam of Brighton
(Labour)
Asked by
Lord Berkeley
(Labour)
Type
Oral answers to questions
My Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend for that long Answer, but perhaps I could press him to be a little more specific. Surely local authorities tend to underestimate the cost of schemes to make them appear to be better value for money. Surely the only way of making them come up with proper estimates of the outturn cost is to make them carry the extra cost if they run out of budget. Is it not in the Government’s interest that local authorities should keep to budget? If they cannot, surely the Treasury has to increase the optimism bias that it uses in appraising schemes to ensure that local authorities stay within the total budget.
Subjects
Costs; Construction; Increases; Local government; Roads
Date
10 July 2008
Reference
703 c848-9
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, perhaps I need to take advice on that from the noble Lord. The process of building up estimations for each part of the scheme has obviously been gone through. Very clear guidance is given on that, and local authorities have to ensure that they conform to the process.
My Lords, perhaps I need to take advice on that from the noble Lord. The process of building up estimations for each part of the scheme has obviously been gone through. Very clear guidance is given on that, and local authorities have to ensure that they conform to the process.
Answered by
Lord Bassam of Brighton
(Labour)
Asked by
Earl Ferrers
(Conservative)
Type
Oral answers to questions
My Lords, in his original Answer, the Minister referred to a ““robust scheme””. What is a robust scheme and what is a scheme that is not robust?
Subjects
Costs; Construction; Increases; Local government; Roads
Date
10 July 2008
Reference
703 c850
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, I do not think that this is a question of either/or. Clearly, the schemes must stand on their own merit. I will not get into a debate about the new Mersey Gateway scheme, although I know that there is some concern about the figures produced for it. We must accept that there are many instances in which local major road schemes make a significant contribution to reducing congestion and have a sound environmental base; they were long argued for because of their contribution to local regeneration. We must look at this in the round rather than use a narrow either/or choice between rail electrification and the merits of the road scheme.
My Lords, I do not think that this is a question of either/or. Clearly, the schemes must stand on their own merit. I will not get into a debate about the new Mersey Gateway scheme, although I know that there is some concern about the figures produced for it. We must accept that there are many instances in which local major road schemes make a significant contribution to reducing congestion and have a sound environmental base; they were long argued for because of their contribution to local regeneration. We must look at this in the round rather than use a narrow either/or choice between rail electrification and the merits of the road scheme.
Answered by
Lord Bassam of Brighton
(Labour)
Asked by
Lord Faulkner of Worcester
(Labour)
Type
Oral answers to questions
My Lords, does my noble friend accept that the details of a number of road-building schemes have come to light recently as a result of Freedom of Information Act requests to the Department of Transport and that they demonstrate that the cost overruns in a number of cases are almost completely out of control? One example is that of the new crossing of the Mersey, whose cost has risen from £209 million to £390 million. Do not such schemes represent bad value for money and are they not environmentally unsound? Would not the money be better spent on, for example, railway electrification and other public transport provision?
Subjects
Costs; Construction; Increases; Local government; Roads
Date
10 July 2008
Reference
703 c849-50
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, I have a feeling that that fits within the general rubric of being a conspiracy theory.
My Lords, I have a feeling that that fits within the general rubric of being a conspiracy theory.
Answered by
Lord Bassam of Brighton
(Labour)
Asked by
Lord Pearson of Rannoch
(UK Independence Party)
Type
Oral answers to questions
My Lords, can the noble Lord confirm or deny what I am sure is an unhelpful rumour that is going the rounds in Eurosceptic circles to the effect that many of the repairs being carried out to our road bridges are in some way influenced or dictated by weight limits imposed from Brussels?
Subjects
Costs; Construction; Increases; Local government; Roads
Date
10 July 2008
Reference
703 c849
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, I am reluctant to place the blame on local authorities; there must be a shared responsibility. Of course there are occasions in which a local authority’s estimation has been less than rigorous, but we must use the guidance, press on local authorities and help them to develop the capacity so that estimations are more accurate and timely. One sometimes has to accept that there are good reasons for cost overruns in what are ambitious schemes. These things cannot always be seen at the outset of a project.
My Lords, I am reluctant to place the blame on local authorities; there must be a shared responsibility. Of course there are occasions in which a local authority’s estimation has been less than rigorous, but we must use the guidance, press on local authorities and help them to develop the capacity so that estimations are more accurate and timely. One sometimes has to accept that there are good reasons for cost overruns in what are ambitious schemes. These things cannot always be seen at the outset of a project.
Answered by
Lord Bassam of Brighton
(Labour)
Asked by
Lord Bradshaw
(Liberal Democrat)
Type
Oral answers to questions
My Lords, in answer to that, in fact it was the British Government who agreed to the heavier lorries, although they were well warned about the effects of weight increases. I return to the Question. Is it not the case that many local authorities are trying to blame central government for their lack of money, although that is due to the fact that the authorities do not estimate properly in the first place?
Subjects
Costs; Construction; Increases; Local government; Roads
Date
10 July 2008
Reference
703 c849
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, I set out the formula that is applied and I also explained that there is very clear guidance. We are not taking responsibility for the cost overruns; it is up to local authorities to make absolutely sure that they make accurate estimations when they submit schemes as part of the bidding process.
My Lords, I set out the formula that is applied and I also explained that there is very clear guidance. We are not taking responsibility for the cost overruns; it is up to local authorities to make absolutely sure that they make accurate estimations when they submit schemes as part of the bidding process.
Answered by
Lord Bassam of Brighton
(Labour)
Asked by
Lord Berkeley
(Labour)
Type
Oral answers to questions
My Lords, although my noble friend seems to be taking responsibility for the cost overruns of many of these local authority schemes—I am sure that the local authorities will be pleased about that—the fact remains that local authority schemes and many Highways Agency schemes are running well over their estimated budget costs. I should be grateful if my noble friend could explain what the Government are doing to control the costs of these road schemes, as has happened already in the railway industry.
Subjects
Costs; Construction; Increases; Local government; Roads
Date
10 July 2008
Reference
703 c850
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
asked Her Majesty's Government:What their priorities are for road safety advertising in the financial year 2008–09; and
asked Her Majesty's Government:What their priorities are for road safety advertising in the financial year 2008–09; and
Asked by
Earl of Dundee
(Conservative)
Answered by
Lord Bassam of Brighton
(Labour)
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Answered on
1 July 2008
The priorities for THINK! road safety campaigns in the current financial year and allocated budgets are:
Drink drive, £3.6 million. There are two campaigns a year, in June and December. Our primary target audience is male drivers under the age of 30 and the strategy is to make them believe there is a strong likelihood that they will get caught if they drive over the legal alcohol limit and to inform them of the consequences, both legal and to the quality of their life, of a conviction.
Motorbike safety, £2.5 million. There are two main strands to the motorcycle campaign. The first is aimed primarily at car drivers and consists of a TV commercial prompting them to look out for motorcycles when driving. The second is a sponsorship of British Superbikes and is aimed at leisure bikers.
Speeding, £3 million. We have a TV campaign aimed at all drivers in urban areas which highlights the dangers to pedestrians of exceeding the 30 mph speed limit with the proposition: ““Hit a child at 40 mph and she has an 80 per cent chance of being killed, but hit her at 30 mph and she has an 80 per cent chance of surviving””. There is also a campaign on radio and outdoor media highlighting the dangers of driving too fast on rural roads.
Seatbelt wearing, £3 million. A new seatbelt campaign is in development and will be launched in October 2008.
Children, teenagers and parents, £4.1 million. We have campaigns aimed at primary school children designed to help them learn the green cross code and at teenagers reminding them that they should avoid distractions on the roads. We also target parents with the message that children copy behaviours that they see their parents practise, so they should ensure that they always set a good example when using the roads.
Subjects
Children; Advertising; Finance; Driving under influence; Motorcycles; Safety; Roads; Speed limits; Safety belts
Date
1 July 2008
Reference
4334; 703 c35WA
House
House of Lords
What funds they have allocated to each of their priorities for road safety advertising in the financial year 2008–09.
What funds they have allocated to each of their priorities for road safety advertising in the financial year 2008–09.
Asked by
Earl of Dundee
(Conservative)
Answered by
Lord Bassam of Brighton
(Labour)
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Answered on
1 July 2008
The priorities for THINK! road safety campaigns in the current financial year and allocated budgets are:
Drink drive, £3.6 million. There are two campaigns a year, in June and December. Our primary target audience is male drivers under the age of 30 and the strategy is to make them believe there is a strong likelihood that they will get caught if they drive over the legal alcohol limit and to inform them of the consequences, both legal and to the quality of their life, of a conviction.
Motorbike safety, £2.5 million. There are two main strands to the motorcycle campaign. The first is aimed primarily at car drivers and consists of a TV commercial prompting them to look out for motorcycles when driving. The second is a sponsorship of British Superbikes and is aimed at leisure bikers.
Speeding, £3 million. We have a TV campaign aimed at all drivers in urban areas which highlights the dangers to pedestrians of exceeding the 30 mph speed limit with the proposition: ““Hit a child at 40 mph and she has an 80 per cent chance of being killed, but hit her at 30 mph and she has an 80 per cent chance of surviving””. There is also a campaign on radio and outdoor media highlighting the dangers of driving too fast on rural roads.
Seatbelt wearing, £3 million. A new seatbelt campaign is in development and will be launched in October 2008.
Children, teenagers and parents, £4.1 million. We have campaigns aimed at primary school children designed to help them learn the green cross code and at teenagers reminding them that they should avoid distractions on the roads. We also target parents with the message that children copy behaviours that they see their parents practise, so they should ensure that they always set a good example when using the roads.
Subjects
Children; Advertising; Finance; Driving under influence; Motorcycles; Safety; Roads; Speed limits; Safety belts
Date
1 July 2008
Reference
4335; 703 c35WA
House
House of Lords
asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Lord Bassam of Brighton on 3 June (WA 50) concerning speed limits on road vehicles, whether the Answer took account of environmental issues and the contribution of speeding to road deaths.
asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Lord Bassam of Brighton on 3 June (WA 50) concerning speed limits on road vehicles, whether the Answer took account of environmental issues and the contribution of speeding to road deaths.
Asked by
Lord Laird
(Crossbench)
Answered by
Lord Bassam of Brighton
(Labour)
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Answered on
17 June 2008
Vehicle construction standards are set Europe-wide. Speed limiters for heavy trucks and large passenger vehicles were introduced throughout the EU because their accident involvement on most high-speed roads is greater than that for cars, and the consequences of such accidents tend to be severe.
Restricting car and light van top speeds would not address inappropriate speed on other roads—for example, in 30 mph areas—where the accident rate is higher than that of motorways. This is tackled through road-safety publicity, emphasising the role of speed and how accidents occurring at higher speeds are more likely to kill. Enforcement measures such as safety cameras and road engineering measures such as traffic calming also play a key part.
Analysis for the climate change programme review included estimates relating to fuel savings and CO2 reduction if all traffic always observed the 70 mph limit on motorways and dual carriageways.
Subjects
Environment protection; Motor vehicles; Safety; Roads; Speed limits; Speed governors
Date
17 June 2008
Reference
4093; 702 c162WA
House
House of Lords
asked Her Majesty's Government:What timetable they envisage for the extension throughout Great Britain of the foundation course in safe road use to be piloted in Scotland.
asked Her Majesty's Government:What timetable they envisage for the extension throughout Great Britain of the foundation course in safe road use to be piloted in Scotland.
Asked by
Earl of Dundee
(Conservative)
Answered by
Lord Bassam of Brighton
(Labour)
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Answered on
21 May 2008
We plan that our foundation qualification in safe road use should be available in Scotland from autumn this year. No decision has yet been taken in respect of other parts of Great Britain.
Subjects
Driving instruction; Qualifications; Young people; Safety; Roads
Date
21 May 2008
Reference
3632; 701 c203WA
House
House of Lords
asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the likely take-up of the foundation course in safe road use to be piloted in Scotland.
asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the likely take-up of the foundation course in safe road use to be piloted in Scotland.
Asked by
Earl of Dundee
(Conservative)
Answered by
Lord Bassam of Brighton
(Labour)
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Answered on
21 May 2008
In the fora of young people that the Driving Standards Agency organised as part of preparing the Learning to Drive consultation proposals, including those held in Scotland, 85 per cent of participants said that they would be interested in taking a foundation qualification in safe road use, provided it was not an obligatory course. The aim is to make this qualification engaging and enjoyable as well as valuable.
Subjects
Driving instruction; Qualifications; Scotland; Young people; Safety; Roads
Date
21 May 2008
Reference
3631; 701 c203WA
House
House of Lords
asked Her Majesty's Government:What will be the content of the foundation course in safe road use to be piloted in Scotland, announced on May 7.
asked Her Majesty's Government:What will be the content of the foundation course in safe road use to be piloted in Scotland, announced on May 7.
Asked by
Earl of Dundee
(Conservative)
Answered by
Lord Bassam of Brighton
(Labour)
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Answered on
21 May 2008
We are currently discussing the content with the Scottish Qualifications Authority and our other partners in the project. This is a qualification designed principally for those who have not yet reached driving age. It will therefore include topics such as the content of the Highway Code, being a safe and responsible passenger in a car or bus, a good attitude towards road use and the economics of owning a car.
Subjects
Driving instruction; Pilot schemes; Qualifications; Scotland; Young people; Safety; Roads
Date
21 May 2008
Reference
3630; 701 c203WA
House
House of Lords
My Lords, there are no plans to introduce such measures.
My Lords, there are no plans to introduce such measures.
Answered by
Lord Bassam of Brighton
(Labour)
Asked by
Earl of Glasgow
(Liberal Democrat)
Type
Oral answers to questions
Whether they will introduce measures to allow electric personal assistive mobility devices to be used on roads.
Subjects
Electric vehicles; Roads
Date
19 May 2008
Reference
701 c1245
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, the noble Earl is obviously very keen on Segways. We have an open mind on these matters and keep such things under review, but there are difficulties.
My Lords, the noble Earl is obviously very keen on Segways. We have an open mind on these matters and keep such things under review, but there are difficulties.
Answered by
Lord Bassam of Brighton
(Labour)
Asked by
Earl of Glasgow
(Liberal Democrat)
Type
Oral answers to questions
My Lords, I thank the Minister for that, although it is obviously a very disappointing Answer. Are the Government aware that most European countries, and most states in the United States, welcome the Segway, which is also called the Segway Personal Transporter? The police and emergency services in this country see it as having great advantages. It is no more dangerous than bicycling, and a lot more fun, I can tell you. It is technically innovative, self-balancing, carbon-free and ideal for travelling distances of two to five miles—journeys that people usually now take by car. Can the Ministry of Transport really not see the potential of the Segway? It could be a vital tool in helping to solve our transport problems, particularly in inner cities. Could the ministry not at least initiate trials, with a view to considering allowing it to travel in places where at least bicycles are now permitted?
Subjects
Electric vehicles; Roads
Date
19 May 2008
Reference
701 c1245-6
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords