§ 4. Captain Pilkingtonasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether, in the interests of road safety, 1192 he will review the present regulations for vehicles turning on their lights from half an hour after sunset until half an hour before sunrise.
§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation (Mr. G. R. H. Nugent)For many years, lighting-up time during winter has been from half an hour after sunset to half an hour before sunrise, and I have no evidence that any alteration is required on safety grounds.
§ Captain PilkingtonDoes not my hon. Friend agree that his own Minister's Annual Report says that a very large proportion of accidents do occur at about lighting-up time? In view of that fact, would it not be a good idea to advance the time?
§ Mr. NugentI am not sure that it would assist in this matter, and it might create serious anomalies in the North to require people to drive about in full daylight with lights on.
§ Mr. F. Noel-BakerWhile the Parliamentary Secretary has this in mind, could he look again at cyclists, some of whom do not light up at all?
§ Mr. NugentI rather think that is a matter for the police rather than for me.