HC Deb 18 June 1958 vol 589 c1065
1. Mr. Russell

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is aware that many large lorries and vans still have no direction indicators, or have types which cannot be seen by following vehicles unless their drivers pull out into the centre of the road; and what steps he proposes to take to persuade the owners of large lorries to remedy this defect.

The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation (Mr. G. R. H. Nugent)

There are serious difficulties in designing completely satisfactory direction indicators for heavy lorries. We have, however, made proposals to the industry for improving the visibility of direction indicators where fitted, and we intend to make regulations on these lines to apply early next year.

Mr. Russell

As it is possible to fit direction indicators to some heavy lorries, is not it possible to fit them to all, certainly as far as the back is concerned?

Mr. Nugent

We do not intend to make it obligatory to fit traffic indicators to old vehicles at the present time. Our intention is to make it obligatory that where traffic indicators are fitted to vehicles they shall conform to a certain standard.