HC Deb 27 October 1965 vol 718 cc155-6
43. Mr. Cordle

asked the Minister of Transport whether it is his policy to extend the provision of Give Way to the Right notices at roundabouts as common practice throughout the country in order to encourage and enforce this practice by all drivers.

Mr. Swingler

Both for safety and the flow of traffic this is an important matter and my right hon. Friend will make a statement on the results of the recent comprehensive experiments as soon as he can.

Mr. Cordle

Does the Parliamentary Secretary agree that these discretionary "Give Way to the Right" notices often lead to confusion and sometimes give rise to accidents, especially when drivers consider that they have the right of way at all roundabouts and anticipate it? Would it not be beneficial to write this into the Highway Code, so as to achieve uniformity throughout the land?

Mr. Swingler

It has not been found so easy to come to a definite conclusion about this matter in the past. That is why an experiment has now been carried out with these signs at 80 roundabouts. We are now within a few weeks of the end of the experiment, when the results will be known, and a definite statement will be made by my right hon. Friend early next year. If this statement accepts what the hon. Gentleman is referring to, we shall, of course, incorporate it in the Highway Code.