HC Deb 05 February 1958 vol 581 cc1173-4
3. Vice-Admiral Hughes Hallett

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he has yet received the views of interested organisations on the recommendations of the Committee on Road Safety for varying the minimum age for riding certain types of motor-cycle; and whether he will make a further statement.

Mr. Nugent

As I told my hon. and gallant Friend in my letter of 22nd January, we must satisfy ourselves that it is in the interests of road safety before we can consider lowering the minimum age for riding light motor-cycles. I am arranging to put in hand in the spring a survey designed to give us information bearing on this question.

Vice-Admiral Hughes Hallett

While thanking my hon. Friend for that reply, and while agreeing that this is a matter in which we have to proceed carefully, may I ask him, nevertheless, to remember that we are considering a recommendation by the Committee on Road Safety? Would he also consider inquiring of the German authorities whether they have any figures showing the accident rate to 15-year-olds on mopeds as compared with 16-year-olds because, would he not agree, that comparison would be relevant to our problem?

Mr. Nugent

I am not likely to forget what my hon. and gallant Friend suggests in the first part of his supplementary question, because I am Chairman of that Committee. On his second point I feel that we should collect the best information we can from our own young motorcyclists, because that will be the only reliable guide we can have as to what relationship there is between age and experience of riding and accidents.

Mr. J. Harrison

The Minister will recognise that the moped is now the most popular form of conveyance to work. Will he remember that the school-leaving age is fifteen, that lads of this age are deprived of using the method of travelling to work enjoyed by boys of sixteen, and that it would unify the position if the Minister would allow boys of fifteen to go to work on these vehicles?

Mr. Nugent

I am well aware of the potential advantages, but we must assure ourselves first that it will be consistent with road safety.