§ 24. Mr. Ridleyasked the Minister of Transport if, in the interests of road safety, he will discourage the use of vertical or near-vertical kerbs, except in built-up areas.
§ Mr. MarplesMy divisional road engineers will continue to apply in practice the advice on this subject which my predecessor issued to highway authorities in 1955. He recommended that in rural areas vertical kerbs should be provided only where a footway adjoins or is close to the carriageway and is used to an appreciable extent, or where for some other reason it is dangerous for vehicles to leave the carriageway.
§ Mr. RidleyI agree with what my right hon. Friend has said, but does not he think that the time has now come when the specification of appropriate cross-sections for different types of roads should be more forcibly pressed on local authorities? Is not this one way in which we can prevent accidents on the roads?
§ Mr. MarplesIf my hon. Friend has in mind any instance where he thinks that a local authority has not carried out the recommendation I should be grateful for particulars, and will look into them.
§ Mr. DribergWell, here is an instance. Will the right hon. Gentleman find out why that advice was not given, or taken, when the new nuclear power station road was constructed from Latchington to Bradwell in Essex?
§ Mr. MarplesYes, I will certainly look into that.