Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he has taken to (a) ensure adequate facilities for drivers and (b) protect the health and safety of people driving on the M20 during Operation Brock.
The Department for Transport has been working with the Kent Resilience Forum on their plans for driver welfare. Provisions for private motorists may be triggered once traffic has been queuing for at least 4 hours and if required will be distributed to stationary traffic. Any decision to provide welfare for hauliers on the M20 will be taken on the day based on the latest intelligence. If activated there will be welfare services for hauliers at Manston Airfield.
The health and safety of drivers is a priority for Highways England and the Department for Transport. For safety reasons a 50mph speed limit will be in operation in both directions on the M20 and to further support the emergency services and drivers, particularly vulnerable users, Highways England will deploy additional traffic officers and enhanced incident support services and vehicle recovery provision.