§ 13. Mr. Atkinsasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will take steps to have adequate street lighting placed in the vicinity of all zebra crossings.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI cannot compel lighting authorities to provide street lighting, but I hope they will do all they can to ensure that street lighting near zebra crossings is as good as possible.
§ Mr. AtkinsWill my right hon. Friend draw the attention of the local authorities to the many zebra crossings where the street lighting is noticeable by its absence, which constitutes a great danger, as motorists approaching the zebra crossings are not able to see whether people are on the kerbs?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI will certainly do what I can, but, as I think my hon. Friend appreciates, except on trunk roads street lighting is the sole responsibility of the local authorities, and even on trunk roads my responsibility is confined to the making of a 50 per cent. grant. I can encourage but cannot give instructions.
§ 26. Major Anstruther-Grayasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether his attention has been drawn to a case where fatal consequences arose from misunderstanding on the part of a pedestrian as to the rights of a person stepping off an island half-way across a zebra crossing in front of an approaching vehicle; and whether he will take steps to make the effect of his regulations on this matter clear and free from all doubt.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterYes, Sir. I greatly regret the accident in question, but the regulations are quite clear. Where a zebra crossing is divided by a central refuge, the pedestrian has precedence on one section at a time only. Where there is no such refuge his precedence relates to the crossing as a whole. This is sound sense, and I am grateful to my hon. and gallant Friend for giving me this opportunity to make the point better known.
§ Major Anstruther-GrayMay we take it from that that a pedestrian stepping off a pavement is under an obligation to look for traffic before he steps out in front of it?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI think that is broadly right, but it is put extremely clearly in the Highway Code.
§ Mrs. MannWould the right hon. Gentleman consider making a broadcast on this subject as there is great confusion in the minds of the people?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterAs I said in my main answer, I hope that my hon. and gallant Friend's Question and my answer may be noticed outside. The matter is also dealt with in the Highway Code, of which some millions, I am glad to say, have been circulated. Whilst I am anxious that the position should be improved as much as possible, I am not sure that a broadcast would necessarily help.