HL Deb 25 June 1952 vol 177 cc389-91

3.3 p.m.

EARL HOWE

My Lords, I beg to ask the second Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether any decision has yet been reached upon the improved lighting of pedestrian crossings.]

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE CO-ORDINATION OF TRANSPORT, FUEL AND POWER (LORD LEATHERS)

My Lords, my right honourable friend has decided that the best way of making the "zebra" crossings more conspicuous at night and in bad weather will be to install a flashing light inside the yellow globes of the beacons. Before making the necessary amendments in the regulations, my right honourable friend is consulting the associations representing local authorities and the principal road users organisations.

EARL HOWE

My Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for his answer, the last part of which I did not hear very well, may I ask whether he thinks that merely to illuminate the Belisha beacons will really give adequate lighting? On a dark night, with rain on the road, it is almost impossible for a motorist to see a pedestrian in dark clothes on these crossings. Will the Minister not consider some form of spot lighting direct on to the crossing, which would assist all parties and perhaps prevent fatal accidents?

LORD LUCAS OF CHILWORTH

Before the noble Lord answers, may I ask whether his right honourable friend's mind is completely closed to another form of illumination? I would offer my congratulations to the noble Lord's right honourable friend upon having these crossings illuminated. "Zebra" crossings have been a great success, and illumination is just the one extra thing that is wanted. In support of what the noble Earl has said, I would suggest that the form of lighting mentioned by the noble Lord is not the best for the purpose. I suggest that these crossings should be lighted from overhead. Is the mind of the noble Lord's right honourable friend completely closed, or would he consider that matter?

LORD LEATHERS

There is nothing new about this alternative suggestion. This matter has been the subject of a great deal of inquiry, and all the interests concerned have co-operated with the Minister of Transport in order to secure, by all kinds of experiments, the best kind of lighting that can be found to meet this need. As the result of all the tests which have been made it has been decided that the beacon with a flashing light is the best that can be obtained. We know that there are other people, particularly many of the road users, who feel that the other system would be better, but we have worked at the whole question very hard; we have made inquiries of everyone interested in this question; we have made every test imaginable, and what I have reported is the upshot.

LORD STRABOLGI

This is a very important matter affecting human life, and I think I may therefore be allowed to add a question. Is this flashing or winking light to be on in the daytime in ordinary weather, or only at night and in bad weather?

LORD LEATHERS

Only at night and in bad weather, as at present arranged

EARL HOWE

May I ask the noble Lord whether he will continue to keep an open mind on this question? Possibly during the coming winter months it may be found that some form of spotlighting is required, in addition to the illuminated Belisha beacon, especially at very dangerous crossings. Will be keep an open mind and, if possible, give us some slight hope with regard to the future?

LORD LEATHERS

Of course these things will be kept in mind, but a decision has had to be taken because it is essential that all these arrangements should be in practice and in working order by next winter. I assure your Lordships that it will take us all our time to carry out the necessary work in regard to these flashing lights to have them ready in time. I could not say what would be the upshot if we found that something else would be a little better. It would have to be considered and dealt with later on. I cannot say what would be done, beyond what I have said about the existing arrangements.

LORD HAWKE

Does the noble Lord, Lord Leathers, not think that when these blinking beacons are in the same area as flashing advertisements they may cause some considerable confusion to the road user?

LORD LEATHERS

One might imagine that all these things had not been taken into account in the experiments that have been made. As a matter of fact, they have all been tried out under all conditions that have been suggested. I can only repeat that this method of having a flashing beacon has shown itself to be the best method that can be found.