§ 44. Sir W. Brassasked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the difficulty 207 drivers have of estimating accurately the speed at which motor vehicles are travelling in the dark without illuminating the speedometer on the dashboard, he will issue instructions as to how the new 20-mile an hour speed limit in built-up areas can be observed; and whether it is the considered opinion of the experts of his Department that dashboard lights should remain alight or should be extinguished when driving in the black-out?
§ Captain WallaceThe new 20-mile-an-hour speed limit during black-out hours applies only in localities where a 30-mile-an-hour limit has previously been in force. I do not think that motorists are finding any additional difficulty in observing the new speed limit, or any greater need for the use of dashboard lights.
§ Sir W. BrassWill my right hon. and gallant Friend give the answer for which I asked, which is whether his experts at the Ministry say that the light ought to be alight or whether it ought not to be alight? That is the Question I asked my right hon. and gallant Friend.
§ Captain WallaceIf the light shows outside the car it is an offence against the regulations, but if the driver really does not know whether the car is going at 20 or 30 miles per hour I cannot think that, if he switched on the light for a moment to look at the speedometer, he would be run in.