§ 22. Sir W. Anstruther-Grayasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether his attention has been drawn to the production of a motor car, in the medium price range, advertised as being capable of achieving a speed of 100 miles-per-hour in 31 seconds; and what estimate he has made of the impact on road safety of such vehicles in the hands of persons without experience of high-powered cars.
§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation (Mr. Richard Nugent)Yes, Sir. I hope that my hon. and gallant Friend's Question will serve to emphasise the vital importance of a driver having complete control of his vehicle, whatever its potentialities may be.
§ Sir W. Anstruther-GrayMay we take it from that reply that my hon. Friend agrees that this is a matter on which we should keep a watchful eye?
§ Mr. NugentWe have to keep a very fast eye open to see this one. Most of these vehicles are to be exported, so per-haps that will relieve my hon. and gallant Friend's mind.
§ Mr. LiptonWill the hon. Gentleman say on what roads in this small island it is either possible or desirable that we should have vehicles capable of doing 100 m.p.h.?
§ Mr. NugentI think that these vehicles might well do that speed in certain circumstances on the new motorways. We should not see this thing out of perspective. The braking power of these vehicles is just as good as the acceleration. That is an aspect of safety that we should bear in mind.