§ 9. Mr. Crouchasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will take steps to make compulsory the fixing of rubber flaps on the rear mudguards of road vehicles.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterMud flaps are not wholly effective and are often unnecessary. The Regulations already require the provision of wings or other similar fittings to catch so far as practicable the mud or water thrown up by the wheels, and I do not think that any further compulsory requirements would be feasible.
§ Mr. CrouchIs my right hon. Friend aware how dangerous it is to drive on a wet road, with mud being thrown back on to the windscreen, and how much easier it is to follow a public service vehicle or a petrol lorry, which have these mud flaps? Does not my right hon. Friend think it is dangerous to have mud thrown back on one's windscreen?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI do not think that the contribution mud flaps could make, additional to what can be made by the wings, would justify my introducing further compulsions.