HC Deb 01 December 1965 vol 721 cc1395-6
2. Mr. Harold Walker

asked the Minister of Transport what measures he proposes to reduce accidents on motorways in fog conditions.

The Minister of Transport (Mr. Tom Fraser)

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friends the Members for Liverpool, Walton (Mr. Heffer) and for Coventry, North (Mr. Edelman) on 24th November.

Mr. Walker

The public are anxious that more should be done. For example, will my right hon. Friend respond to the urgent need to press ahead with the provision of emergency roadside telephones on the many miles of motorway which at present have no such provision, in particular the notorious Doncaster by-pass?

Mr. Fraser

My hon. Friend will appreciate that to extend the provision of telephones as he suggests is not something that can be done with the speed with which I can take the other measures I announced a week ago. I am perfectly ready to look at all the suggestions which have been made for improving safety on the motorways in the longer term, but I think that I had better get on with the short-term measures which I have announced.

56. Mr. Cole

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the danger to road safety on motorways and other roads caused by fog and other weather conditions, he will have further consideration given to the device to be carried on vehicles to give warning of accidents, details of which have been sent to him, and about which representations have been made to him by the hon. Member for South Bedfordshire.

Mr. Tom Fraser

I have asked the National Road Safety Advisory Council to advise on the use of direction indicators or other devices as emergency warning signals.

Mr. Cole

Does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that as his Ministry is responsible for initiating road safety devices, it is up to his Ministry to give encouragement, by constructive criticism and in other ways, to those who contribute to the cause of road safety?

Mr. Fraser

Indeed it is the Ministry's function to do that. That is why I appointed the Road Safety Advisory Council, and I should have thought that this was the organisation to which I should turn for advice in these matters.