36. Mr. Gresham Cookeasked the Minister of Transport if he will investigate the practices of lorry drivers and others with regard to flashing and dipping of headlights at night; and if he will arrange for those practices which have accepted meanings in relation to road safety to be described in an appendix to the Highway Code.
§ Mr. MarplesI doubt whether signals of this kind are likely to be understood 1289 if used by an inexperienced driver, and I do not think that they could safely be included in the Highway Code.
Mr. Gresham CookeWill my right hon. Friend consider this. These secret and cabalistic signs will continue to be used, and we ought to come to terms with them. The other day a motorist thought he had the "come on" signal. He went on and had an accident and was then told by the other driver, "You fool, I gave you the 'keep back' signal".
§ Mr. MarplesThat is all the more reason why they should not go in the Highway Code. The National Road Safety Committee of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents felt that the practice was not only objectionable but indeed dangerous.