52. Mr. J. T. Priceasked the Minister of Transport if he will make a further statement on the implementation of the recommendations for alterations in level crossings following the report of the tribunal on the Hixon accident, in so far as they affect types of level crossing other than automatic half-barrier crossings.
§ Mr. MarshThe recommendations in the Hixon report related specifically to automatic half-barrier crossings and the immediate priority is to implement them for these crossings. But we are also considering how the recommendations might affect other unmanned crossings on public roads.
Mr. PriceIs my right hon. Friend aware that there is still considerable public disquiet about the somewhat slap-happy operation of level crossings in this country? The Hixon disaster has highlighted these fears. Not only do we require a more uniform method of operating level crossings for public safety, 34 but also far keener operation of safety devices for protecting fast-moving trains on the electrified system against a repetition of what happened at Hixon.
§ Mr. MarshWhile not disagreeing with some of my hon. Friend's comments, one must keep clearly in mind that Hixon was dealing with an automatic half-barrier crossing, and specifically with that. To add to some of my hon. Friend's comments, we could also do with a little more attention by users of these crossings to the safety regulations.