§ 41. Captain Litchfieldasked the Minister of Transport if he has now given further consideration to the adequacy of the regulations governing the rear lighting of commercial vehicles.
§ Mr. HayWe are satisfied that the statutory twin rear lights and twin reflectors required by the Road Transport Lighting Act, 1957, for commercial vehicles are adequate, provided, of course, that they are satisfactorily maintained. The whole question of the lighting of vehicles generally is now under close review, and we are at present studying the comments we have received 1475 on proposals for the carriage of additional side lights by vehicles over 40 ft. in length, and additional lights and other markings for vehicles carrying projecting loads.
§ Captain LitchfieldDoes not my hon. Friend agree that it is common experience to come up on slow traffic, lorries and so on, with dim, inadequate, and badly sited lighting? Following his right hon. Friend's reply to my last Question, is he not aware that a lorry travelling at 40 miles an hour can be lawfully overtaken at a relative overtaking speed of about 100 miles an hour? Does he not see great danger in this, and agree that some urgent action is necessary to improve rear lighting on heavy vehicles?
§ Mr. HayThis is not a simple matter. As I said in my original Answer, the requirement of the law if fully observed should cause none of the difficulties to which my hon. and gallant Friend has referred. This is an enforcement problem, but we are going into the whole question of the lighting of vehicles, and we shall make a statement about it as soon as we can.