§ 2.53 p.m.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ I To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in view of the great difficulty sometimes experienced by drivers of motor vehicles in seeing pedestrians at night waiting to cross a pedestrian crossing, where such crossings are situated in areas unlit by nearby street lamps or shop windows, they will consider advising lighting authorities who have such crossings in their area to fit shaded lamps facing directly downwards upon the standards of Belisha beacons for the greater safety of pedestrians and drivers.]
§ LORD CHESHAMYes, my Lords. The possibility of amending the pedestrian crossing regulations to enable local authorities to improve threshold lighting, very much in the manner suggested by the noble Lord, is now being considered by my right honourable friend.
§ LORD LUCAS OF CHILWORTHMy Lords, would the noble Lord convey to his right honourable friend the suggestion that, as pedestrian crossings have largely lost their effect in thickly populated areas, they should be re-sited and in future have traffic lights to regulate the crossing of pedestrians, which has proved beyond all shadow of doubt the correct way to do it in America?
§ LORD CHESHAMMy Lords, I will most certainly convey the noble Lord's suggestion, as any other suggestion. What my right honourable friend will think of it I am not too sure.
§ LORD LUCAS OF CHILWORTHMy Lords, would the noble Lord like to jog his right honourable friend's mind with the reminder that the same suggestion was made to him over the weekend, when he had, as reported in the Press, consultations with American traffic experts?
§ EARL HOWEMy Lords, cannot we have an English solution to this problem without having to go to America?
§ LORD CHESHAMMy Lords, I think it is quite unnecessary for me to jog my right honourable friend's mind about anything.