Conservatives unveil new research that backs the case for dualling the A1
Anne-Marie Trevelyan has unveiled new research that challenges Labour’s continuing refusal to dual the A1. Anne-Marie has written the report on road safety data with academics from Newcastle University. The report criticises claims by Labour Ministers that the A1 is not an abnormally dangerous road.
Anne-Marie said, “The Government argues that there are not enough serious or fatal accidents on the A1 between Morpeth and the Scottish Border to consider dualling a priority. Yet our new research shows that accidents are not statistically linked to poor weather conditions, drink driving or the time of the year. The safest time to be driving on the A1 is early on a dark, windy and wet Thursday morning.
“The A1’s high accident rate must, therefore, be attributable to the layout of the road. A new dual carriageway would instantly eliminate the dangerous dips, bends, small junctions and transitions between dual and single carriageway.”
The report challenges as ‘flawed and misleading’ the statistics that currently inform decisions as to whether the A1 should be upgraded.
Anne-Marie added, “It is beyond belief that, if a car rolls and ends up on the central reservation, but by the grace of God no one is taken to hospital, the accident is classified as ‘slight’. Worse still, if a crash victim dies in hospital after an accident, the accident is not recorded as ‘fatal’. The result is that official statistics make the road seem safer than it actually is.
“I have written to Lord Adonis, Labour’s Transport Minister, asking for clarification on the information he uses to judge the safety of the A1. I hope that his reply will give us the chance to discuss this research with him and persuade the Department for Transport to look again at the safety record of the A1.”
5th February 2010
Promoted by Dr Rob Loughenbury on behalf of Berwick Conservatives both at The Gardener’s House
Bondgate Without
Alnwick NE66 1PQ
Tel: 01665 602106
