HC Deb 04 February 1959 vol 599 cc363-5
10. Sir F. Medlicott

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if, with a view to facilitating the flow of traffic, he will consider adopting the system which has been used with success abroad whereby, in cities and towns and in other built-up areas, pedestrians are only allowed to cross the streets at junctions and at certain other specified points.

Mr. Watkinson

My hon. Friend's suggestion would require legislation. We will bear it in mind but I do not think it could be widely used in this country.

Sir F. Medlicott

Should not we have established by now the principle that, basically, the pavements are provided for pedestrians and the roads for vehicles? Would not my right hon. Friend at least consider trying this out as an experiment in some large city—preferably not Norwich?

Mr. Watkinson

I sympathise with the view of my hon. Friend about Norwich, because I think that one's opinion on this matter depends on whether one is a pedestrian or a motorist.

Mr. Gresham Cooke

While we all wish to see an increase in the flow of traffic, will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that it may mean having pedestrian crossings close together in order to assist pedestrians, particularly elderly people, or otherwise they may have to walk a long way to get across the road?

11. Sir F. Medlicott

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if his attention has been drawn to the extent to which the flow of traffic in cities and towns is impeded by the manner in which pedestrians either ignore or seem unable to understand the working of traffic lights, and who make a habit of running or walking in the way of motor vehicles when the vehicles have the right of way; and what action is being taken to induce a greater amount of traffic discipline in pedestrians, both in the interests of motorists and of the pedestrians' own safety.

Mr. Nugent

The Highway Code advises pedestrians at a crossing controlled by traffic lights not to cross in front of traffic which has the signal to go; and under the Road Traffic Act, 1956, it is an offence for a pedestrian to disobey a direction from a policeman controlling traffic.

Sir F. Medlicott

Is my hon. Friend aware that, in fact, pedestrians, either wilfully or through carelessness, constantly disobey these lights? Is not it time that, in their own interests, some discipline was imposed upon them comparable with that imposed upon motorists?

Mr. Nugent

My hon. Friend's supplementary question follows the sense of the previous supplementary question addressed to my right hon. Friend. A large degree of co-operation would be needed from pedestrians in order to introduce further regulations at this stage. I am doubtful whether public opinion is ready for that.

Mr. Ernest Davies

Why cannot we follow the practice of America and many Continental countries, which have traffic lights for pedestrians with the road traffic lights saying "Don't Cross", or "Cross"? We seem to install these in very few cases in this country; could not there be a general extension of this system?

Mr. Nugent

We install with the "Cross Now" signal a separate pedestrian phase, where we think the weight of pedestrian traffic justifies it, but it means a complete hold-up for vehicular traffic and we are bound to use it rather sparingly.