§ 52. Sir W. Smithersasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if, in the interests of road safety, he will arrange to give greater publicity to the need for pedestrians to use footpaths where they are available, and thus to avoid walking on the roads as much as possible.
§ Mr. MolsonAdvice on this is contained in the current Highway Code and will be repeated in the new one. When the new code is issued, I will see what can be done to give this point special publicity.
§ Sir W. SmithersWhile thanking the Minister for that reply, may I say that from my experience time after time people will walk on the road and not face the oncoming traffic when there is a footpath? If my hon. Friend could only impress it upon people, it might reduce accidents.
§ Mr. MolsonWe will do so. The matter of facing oncoming traffic will be referred to in the new Highway Code.
§ Mr. PopplewellWhen does the hon. Gentleman hope to be able to issue the new Highway Code?
§ Mr. MolsonWithin the next few months.
§ Mr. H. MorrisonWill the hon. Gentleman be on his guard against following the bureaucratic tendencies of his hon. Friend the Member for Orpington (Sir W. Smithers)?
§ Mr. NicholsonDo the remarks of my hon. Friend bear the interpretation that nobody will be allowed to walk without reading the Highway Code?
§ Mr. MolsonNo, Sir, but it is hoped that pedestrians, like other users of the highway, will read the Highway Code.
§ Mr. Ernest DaviesWill the hon. Gentleman tell us what is holding up this new Highway Code? We have been promised it during the last 12 months, and now we learn that we are not to have it for some months.
§ Mr. MolsonThe drafting has been completed, and we hope to begin the arrangements for printing it hi the very near future. We intend that it shall be a thoroughly good production when it is published.