§ 23. Mr. Russellasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is aware that, when traffic is light at night in many continental towns, traffic signals are switched to a flashing amber light; and what experiments have been carried out in Great Britain with a view to introducing a flashing red light at night which would avoid confusion with Belisha beacons.
§ Mr. NugentExperiments carried out some years ago did not show that flashing red lights had any advantage over vehicle-actuated traffic lights, which are widely used in this country.
§ Mr. RussellIs not my hon. Friend aware that the flashing amber light is in great use on the Continent, and therefore, presumably, saves a good deal of time in vehicles not having to pull up and come to a dead stop, and a great deal of wear and tear? Would not my hon. Friend reconsider the matter in view of the fact that this system is so widely used abroad?
§ Mr. NugentWe have considered it very carefully. Most of the traffic lights used abroad are timed for operation as opposed to the vehicle-actuated lights in 1035 this country. I think that the balance of advantage is to be had by sticking to our present system.
§ Mr. StraussWill the Minister be cautious before he introduces any more flashing light apparatus on the roads?