HC Deb 15 November 1967 vol 754 c410
2. Mr. Archer

asked the Minister of Transport in how many road accidents a misunderstanding occasioned by the flashing of headlights was a contributing factor in the first four months of 1967.

The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport (Mr. Neil Carmichael)

I regret that this information is not available.

Mr. Archer

Does my hon. Friend agree that in practice many accidents are caused by misunderstanding as to whether flashing headlights are affording or asserting right of way, and would he give some clear guidance to drivers?

Mr. Carmichael

There have been many discussions about this and there was a suggestion of the possibility of devising a comprehensive code in 1962. This was considered to be quite impracticable and the only approved use of flashing lights is to indicate that the vehicle is present, which is particularly useful after dark, when it is not permissible or legal to use the horn.

Mr. Gresham Cooke

As flashing headlights are here to stay and the public do use them very widely and will not be stopped doing so, is it not time that we started thinking about drawing up a code for them, to put a new code into the Highway Code?

Mr. Carmichael

As I said in reply to my hon. Friend, consideration was given to the devising of a code in 1962 which proved impracticable and far too difficult. The only code that one can safely use, the only safe way to use flashing headlights, is to use them to indicate the presence of the vehicle and not to try to read anything else into them.