§ 37. Mr. Gowerasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many miles of roads in England and Wales, respectively, have double white lines; to what extent this system is to be extended; and if he will make a statement about the results of the experimental system to date.
§ Mr. WatkinsonIn England about 450 miles and in Wales 80 miles of road have been marked on the new system, which will be progressively extended to all trunk and classified roads over the next few years. There is evidence that the demonstration lengths, unsupported by penalties, have improved traffic behaviour; I am satisfied that the extension of the system, on a mandatory basis, will promote the smoother and safer movement of traffic.
§ Mr. GowerHas my right hon. Friend received representations as a result of any difficulties which have arisen so far from the experimental system
§ Mr. WatkinsonNo, Sir, none of a major nature.
§ Viscount HinchingbrookeIs my right hon. Friend aware that on some roads the line painting is so divergent as to force a driver into the ditch in order to avoid breaking the law by crossing one of the lines? Will he look into that point?
§ Mr. WatkinsonI will certainly look into any examples which my noble Friend can give me.
§ 38. Mr. Gowerasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what advice he has received on the new double white lines on roads in conditions of fog or very heavy rain; and what account his new regulations will take of difficulties which may arise in such conditions.
§ Mr. NugentSpecial care is always necessary in conditions of fog or heavy rain, and in such conditions motorists will find the new double white lines at bends and elsewhere more helpful than the single existing lines.
§ Mr. GowerYes, but is it proposed in suitable cases where the lines are on bends in roads to put double studs—cats' eyes—in case the ordinary white lines are not seen by the motorist?
§ Mr. NugentI am not quite clear what my hon. Friend wants to know, but if his question is directed to cats' eyes, we intend to continue using them just as we do now, and the cats' eyes will be placed where there are double white lines—
§ Mr. Nugent—in between the double white lines on the road, in a single line.
§ Mr. PagetIs there not a distinction between white lines which one must not cross and cats' eyes which one seeks to follow in thick weather, and ought not the cats' eyes to be put in two lines in the track where one is driving and not in the centre of the road?
§ Mr. NugentWe have considered that, but we think on the whole that it would be less confusing to have a single line of cat's eyes.