HC Deb 09 June 1969 vol 784 cc951-2
28. Mr. Macdonald

asked the Minister of Transport if he will take steps to ensure that all advance warning triangles carried by vehicles of this country comply with the appropriate British standard specification; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Bob Brown

We still have no evidence of non-complying triangles causing damage, but we feel it is desirable to have an agreed international standard and we are discussing this at present.

Mr. Macdonald

What is the meaning of the Government urging the Vienna Convention to insist that these triangles ought to be manufactured to a certain standard when they do not insist on that standard being observed in this country?

Mr. Brown

I said that we were working towards an agreement. An international standard is being prepared by the Economic Commission for Europe's Working Party on the Construction of Vehicles.

29. Mr. Macdonald

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he is taking towards ratification of the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic; and, in particular, what steps he is taking to ensure that advance warning triangles are carried by all motor vehicles in this country, other than two-wheelers, and used.

Mr. Bob Brown

The Convention was laid before Parliament by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on 3rd June. I hope that we shall later be able to ratify both this and the related Convention on Signs and Signals.

The Highway Code advises anyone carrying an advance warning sign to place it on the road if they break down or have an accident, but there are no present plans to make the carriage of these devices compulsory, nor will the Convention require this.

Mr. Macdonald

As 34 countries have signed the Convention, and as 11 European countries already require these advance warning triangles to be carried, would it not set an admirable example if we translated words into deeds and became the twelfth?

Mr. Brown

No, Sir. The Convention recommends countries to require their vehicles to carry these triangles. It is a recommendation and not a requirement.