Rural Roads (Hansard, 5 December 1973)

§ 19. Mr. Fry
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider seeking powers to ensure that rural roads with traffic flows exceeding 3,000 passenger-carrying units per day have edge markings.

§ Mr. Speed
No, Sir.

§ Mr. Fry
I regard that as a most unsatisfactory—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. The hon. Member must ask a question.

§ Mr. Fry
In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the answer given by my hon. Friend, may I point out to him—

§ Mr. Speaker
No. The hon. Member must question him.

§ Mr. Fry
May I point out the large number of accidents that occur on rural roads in comparison, for example, with motorways? Is there not an ideal opportunity, with the Road Traffic Bill now going through the House of Lords, to remedy this defect, since at present it is not mandatory on local authorities to supply such markings?

§ Mr. Speed
We must be flexible about this. There are other criteria. This is a question of 3,000 passenger units per day and flows. We are carrying out research at the Transport and Road Research Laboratory which will allow us to progress on this matter, but at the moment I prefer to leave the flexibility with the local authority.