§ 19. Mr. E. Johnsonasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will add a regulation to the Road Vehicles Construction and Use Regulations under which it shall be compulsory for all bumpers of passenger cars to be the same height from the ground.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterNo, Sir. The Final Report of the Committee on Road Safety, issued in 1947, did not recommend compulsory standardisation of bumper heights, even for private cars. The motor industry is aware of the advantages of standardisation where possible, and a standard specification for the guidance of manufacturers exists. I am reluctant to add to the existing volume of statutory regulations unless the case for so doing, on safety or other grounds, is strong and demonstrable.
§ Mr. JohnsonIs my right hon. Friend aware that, as we are rapidly approaching a position where motorists have to drive bumper to bumper, the damage done in minor accidents would be greatly reduced, and consequently a lot of time and money would be saved, if bumpers were the same height?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterAs I said, the motor industry is aware of the desirability of using the same height, but we ought to hesitate before adding further prohibitions with criminal penalties in this matter.
§ Lieut.-Colonel LiptonWhy is the Minister so reluctant to have equality in bumping? Cannot we have equality in this as in so many other respects?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterBoth on bumping and on boring I would prefer not to make any comment.