§ 23. Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Minister of Transport what study he has made of the evidence supplied to him by the Freight Transport Association on the possibility of reducing crosswind accidents on motorways by putting up windsocks; and if he will take steps to introduce such windsocks and in addition provide warning notices at the beginning of wind-danger stretches of motorway.
Mr. Bob BrownWe have asked representative organisations for comments on the need to provide more signs and possibly windsocks. We will look again at the Freight Transport Association's views in the light of the other comments received.
§ Mr. RobertsWould my hon. Friend accept that this is a matter of some urgency in view of the number of accidents in which wind is a contributory factor? Could he give the House the latest available statistics showing the number of accidents in which wind has been such a factor? Would he accept that devices of this type could at least warn lorry and car drivers of the wind danger?
Mr. BrownThe statistics available do not show the urgency that my hon. Friend has expressed. It is very scant information, but a nine-month survey in four countries in 1967 showed that 0.1 per cent. of injury accidents were due to wind. As to the signs and the windsocks, we would have to keep the numbers down if they were to work.