Asked by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many (a) serious and (b) fatal incidents have occurred at level crossings in each of the last five years.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The number of fatalities and serious injuries at level crossings in Great Britain in each of the last five years is set out in the table below. This covers each reporting year and available data from April 2020 to March 2025.
| Person type | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/2025 |
Fatalities (excluding suicide) | Pedestrian | 7 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 5 |
Road Vehicle Occupant | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
Train Occupant | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Total | 7 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 5 | |
Serious injuries | Pedestrian | 4 | 1 | 9 | 3 | 4 |
Road Vehicle Occupant | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
Train Occupant | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 5 | 1 | 9 | 4 | 4 |
Asked by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will publish the criteria used to assess applications for transport Development Consent Order projects.
Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Secretary of State sets out her considerations in her decision letters for each Development Consent Order. This will take into account relevant legislation, national policy statements and other relevant policy as well as national carbon budget commitments. She also follows public law considerations relating to good decision making and procedural fairness to ensure that interested parties have the opportunity to be heard. The Secretary of State takes account of the evidence before her, only considering relevant matters, and provides appropriate reasoning to support her decision making. Information about the Development Consent Order process and its requirements are available on gov.uk: https://national-infrastructure-consenting.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/decision-making-process-guide.
Asked by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department has taken to prohibit the sale and use of LEDs which dazzle (a) pedestrians, (b) cyclists and (c) other drivers.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The lighting of road vehicles is regulated by the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 as amended (RVLR). It is illegal to sell unapproved LED light sources for use in modern car, truck and bus headlamps. Changes were made to the MOT manual to align with the requirements of the RVLR to ensure that modern vehicles fitted with unapproved light sources fitted will fail the MOT.
Furthermore, the Government recognises the increased public concern around headlamp glare and has commissioned independent research to understand the causes.
Careful consideration will be given to that work when it reports later this year to determine what future actions may be appropriate to ensure the safety of all road users.
Asked by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to help tackle the use of illegally modified (a) cars and (b) motorcycles that produce excessive noise.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport takes the impact of excessive noise on health, wellbeing and the natural environment seriously. Strict noise regulations for cars and motorcycles are harmonised at an international level and require vehicles to demonstrate compliance before being placed on the market. Replacement silencers that are to be used on the road must also meet strict noise limits that are aligned with those of the original vehicle.
The Department published the results of roadside trials of noise camera technology last year and continues to keep a keen interest in this technology. However, it is ultimately for local authorities and the police to consider what the most appropriate enforcement routes may be within their area, based on their knowledge of the issue locally. The Department has limited means for influencing local decision making on enforcement priorities.
The police have powers to deal with noisy vehicles on an ongoing basis. Under the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 they can take action if they suspect a vehicle is being driven in a manner that makes excessive noise which is avoidable through reasonable driver care. In the same Regulations, exhausts and silencers are required to be maintained in good working order and not modified so as to increase noise.
Asked by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which regions have the longest driving test waiting times; and what steps her Department is taking to reduce delays in these regions.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The regions currently experiencing the longest driving test waiting times are London and the South East of England.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) continues to work to attract and recruit more driving examiners (DE) in the London and South East areas.
For recruitment campaigns, DVSA continues to use additional measures when advertising in these areas, such as local managers attending and running recruitment events, and working in local communities, building and fostering relationships to showcase the DE roles.
DVSA has seen success in its recent campaigns for these regions. From these campaigns, 36 candidates have completed DE training successfully and have been placed to their test centre, and a further 19 candidates are currently undertaking training.
From the most recent campaigns, DVSA has a further 26 potential candidates booked for upcoming training courses, with a further 48 currently undergoing pre-employment checks.
Asked by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to clear backlogs for driving licence renewal.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
There are no backlogs in driving licence renewal applications, which are being processed within published turnaround times.
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)’s online services are the quickest and easiest way to renew a driving licence, with customers receiving their licence within a few days of a successful online application.
Driving licence applications where a medical condition must be investigated before a licence can be issued can take longer depending on the medical condition(s) involved and whether further information is required from third parties, for example doctors, other healthcare professionals or the applicant themselves.