§ 14. Mr. Patrick Jenkinasked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that internally illuminated bollards designed in accordance with British Standard 873/1959 constitute a road hazard; and if he will take steps to secure the design of improved bollards which would constitute less of an accident hazard.
§ Mr. CarmichaelWe have little evidence to suggest that such bollards constitute a road hazard. The 1959 standard is, however, being revised to meet modern road and traffic conditions.
§ Mr. JenkinIs the Parliamentary Secretary aware that, following the removal of a number of bollards in my constituency, the number of accidents at the relevant junctions has declined substantially? To quote his hon. Friend the 949 other Parliamentary Secretary, is there not some evidence that bollards constructed to 1959 standards are in fact unsafe?
§ Mr. CarmichaelI should need to have evidence of the type of accident concerned. I should need to know, for instance, whether it was caused by collision with a bollard, in which case the position rather than the design would be to blame. There is little evidence to suggest that the design of bollards constitutes any hazard.