HC Deb 22 November 1961 vol 649 c1328
25. Sir Richard Pilkington

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he is taking to put safety rails down the centre of motorways.

Mr. Marples

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer I gave to the hon. Member for Wembley, South (Mr. Russell) on 8th November.

Sir Richard Pilkington

Having seen that Answer and heard the Answers given this afternoon, may I ask whether my right hon. Friend would agree that the answer to this problem is to put very tough shrubs along the centre of the motorways, which would have the combined effect of reducing dazzle and of making any collision on the centre-pieces rather less severe than it would be if there were a more substantial barrier?

Mr. Marples

That is a possibility. It has been studied by the Road Research Laboratory, but we have to remember that shrubs take some time to grow.