HC Deb 03 March 1952 vol 497 cc10-3
5. Mr. Nabarro

asked the Minister of Transport how far road accidents have been abated since introduction of zebra crossings.

Mr. Maclay

I regret that the trend in road accidents continues upwards, but it is much too early to draw from this any inference about zebra crossings. The introduction of these crossings has fundamentally altered the bases of comparison and no reliable statistical appreciation is practicable at this stage.

Mr. Nabarro

What trial period for zebra crossings is required to enable my hon. Friend to judge of their efficacy or otherwise?

Mr. Maclay

There are two points. One is the question of the zebra crossings themselves, and the other is the question of their effect on road accidents as a whole. As regards the latter, it will be some time before statistical evidence could be anything like conclusive, if statistical evidence ever can be.

Mr. Barnett Janner

Does not the hon. Gentleman realise that the incidence of accidents is, if anything, growing, and that it is very essential to assist in making zebra crossings useful both by day and night? Is it not a very urgent matter that ought to be dealt with at once?

Mr. Maclay

All these considerations are being looked at very urgently, and certain action is being taken. The Question I was answering was how far road accidents have been abated since the introduction of zebra crossings, which widens the subject very much from the point which the hon. Member was making.

Mr. John E. Crowder

Will my hon. Friend do all he can to stop pedestrians from hovering on zebra crossings? According to the dictionary, the word "hover" means to be in a state of indecision, which, it seems to me, is generally the case with most pedestrians approaching these crossings.

Mr. Maclay

I did attempt, rather rashly, perhaps, to give some advice on that very subject last Thursday after the 9 p.m. news bulletin.

11. Mr. Cyril Bence

asked the Minister of Transport what action he is taking to establish zebra crossings in Milngavie, Dunbartonshire.

Mr. Maclay

The initiative for establishing pedestrian crossings rests with local authorities. I have recently approved an amended scheme submitted to me by the county council, who are the appropriate authority for classified roads. I understand that the town council have not striped any crossings on the unclassified roads for which they are responsible.

Mr. Bence

Is the Minister aware that in this borough in Dunbartonshire there are two classified roads passing through—Strathbane Road and the Glasgow Road—over which hundreds of school children have to cross daily, and that the local authority, who have removed the crossings from these roads, claim that the responsibility is the Minister's and not theirs? Will he see immediately that the crossings are re-established, because the parents concerned are contemplating not sending their children to school until the crossings have been replaced?

Mr. Maclay

As I said, I have recently approved an amended scheme. I am not aware that there is any outstanding difference of view between my divisional road engineer and the county council.

Mr. Bence

The amended scheme means that there is only one crossing, and not a crossing on these two roads. We want a zebra crossing on the Strathbane Road and on the Glasgow Road.

14. Mr. Janner

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that in places where traffic is heavy some of the black and white crossings are already badly worn and the surface is uneven: and whether he will take steps to ensure that the standard of maintenance of these crossings is kept at an appropriate level.

Mr. Maclay

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave on 25th February to the hon. Member for Cheadle (Mr. Shepherd).

Mr. Janner

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that serious accidents could be prevented if these crossings were kept in proper order? Are local authorities being requested to deal with the matter?

Mr. Maclay

Yes; in the answer to which I referred, I said: I am drawing the attention of local authorities to the need to keep the stripes in reasonable condition."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 25th February, 1952: Vol. 496, c. 78.] We are also, of course, carrying out experiments to see if we can get a better and more lasting method of marking zebra crossings.

17. Brigadier Medlicott

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the greatly improved results which follow when pedestrian crossings are illuminated at night; and if he will endeavour to arrange for local authorities to agree upon a standard form of illumination and for this to be adopted throughout the whole country with all possible speed.

Mr. Maclay

As my hon. and gallant Friend will be aware, experiments on the lighting of pedestrian crossings have recently been carried out. I have quite recently received a report on these experiments, but I shall need to study it very carefully before I can come to a conclusion.

Brigadier Medlicott

is the Minister aware that there is some danger in encouraging pedestrians to use, in the daytime, a crossing which is almost invisible to motorists at night? Will he give special attention to what appears to be a highly successful experiment which has already been carried out?

Mr. Maclay

I am very much aware of that problem. I am studying the report and hope to make a decision in a reasonable time.

Brigadier O. L. Prior-Palmer

Is my hon. Friend aware that these crossings have been in existence in America for many years and that there they have a system of lighting which can be seen at least a mile away? Will he go into that question?