§ 26. Mr. Ammonasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he is aware of the difficulty, particularly in sunny weather, in seeing the traffic regulation lights; and whether he will consider that the light be a half-disc as in the case in the provinces and districts near to the London area?
§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport (Colonel Llewellin)The exposure of a larger disc oflight during daylight hours than can be allowed at night involves the adjustment of a mask on each light. It has 1198 not so far been found possible to instal generally an automatic device for this purpose, and it will readily be appreciated that manual adjustment night and morning of the large number of traffic lights in London is hardly practiable.
§ Mr. AmmonIs there any reason why there should be a distinction between London and some other towns?
§ Colonel LlewellinLondon has a very much larger number of signals. We asked the police whether they could help us in the matter, but they said they were afraid it would be impossible to go round 1199 and adjust every light. Where it is a question of only one or two lights the task is comparatively easy.
§ Mr. SilvermanIs the Minister aware that many people only desire to avoid being converted unwittingly into offenders because of their inability to obey signals which they cannot see?
§ Colonel LlewellinYes, Sir. I nearly did it myself the other day.
§ Sir Irving AlberyIs not the position particularly dangerous on roads where there is no 30-mile speed limit, and would the Minister reconsider the question as it affects such roads where there are traffic lights?