§ 14. Mr. CLARRYasked the Minister of Transport if he will consider, in the interests of the safety of all road users, the necessity of prescribing that no vehicles must start to move over the stop line until the traffic light signals show green, and so enable the cross stream of traffic to dissipate during the period of the amber light?
§ The MINISTER of TRANSPORT (Mr. Oliver Stanley)The significance of signal lights is laid down in Paragraph 28 of the Traffic Signs (Size, Colour and Type) Provisional Regulations, 1933, of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy. This paragraph makes it quite clear that no vehicle should proceed beyond the stop line when the red and amber signal is showing against it. The amber signal shown alone prohibits vehicular traffic from proceeding beyond the stop line except in the case of any vehicle which when the signal first appears is so close to this line that it cannot safely be stopped before passing it.
§ Mr. HOLFORD KNIGHTMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman what steps are being taken by his Department to observe whether these regulations are being carried out? Is he aware that it is common for vehicles to ignore these lights at dangerous points?
§ Captain Sir WILLIAM BRASSIs it not a fact that the police are prosecuting 10,000 people in London this month for doing the very thing which is suggested in the question?
§ Mr. STANLEYAs my hon. and learned Friend well knows, the enforcing of these regulations is a matter for the police and not for me.
§ Mr. MACLEANWhat steps is the right hon. Gentleman taking to have the purport of these regulations brought before the notice of those who drive vehicles?
§ Mr. STANLEYI have no doubt that everybody who is driving a vehicle reads the Parliamentary Debates, and this question and answer will serve a most useful purpose.