§ 15. Mr. Colin Shepherdasked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the maximum and minimum number of brake lights a car may have operational; and if there are any maximum and minimum intensities for such lights.
§ Mrs. ChalkerCars are required to have two stop lamps and may have any number of additional ones. Every stop lamp must conform with an international standard that specifies a maximum and minimum light intensity.
§ Mr. ShepherdMay I draw my hon. Friend's attention to the increasing practice of installing additional stop lights on cars? Does she agree that they cause confusion, fatigue and aggravation when there is rain and heavy traffic, and that the practice has a consequential safety effect? Will she take steps to amend the construction and use regulations?
§ Mrs. ChalkerI, too, am concerned about additional stop lights and their siting, which is why I have asked the Transport and Road Research Laboratory to consider improvements in the layout of rear lights. The laboratory will also take into consideration research on additional stop lamps and any confusion that they may cause.
§ Sir Dudley SmithIs my hon. Friend aware that one of the greatest dangers on motorways is the driver who puts on his fog lamp without a hint of bad weather? It is a dangerous distraction, and I am glad to hear what my hon. Friend has said.
§ Mrs. ChalkerI am grateful to my hon. Friend and I agree with him. We are considering the possibility of improving the tell-tale device on the dashboard to remind drivers that their rear fog lamps are on, because I am sure that half of them forget.