HL Deb 28 February 1962 vol 237 cc951-2

2.46 p.m.

LORD MONTAGU OF BEAULIEU

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

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will consider the advisability of introducing into the Highway Code instructions in order to bring about a uniform system by which road vehicles may use flashing headlights for signalling purposes.]

THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT (LORD CHESHAM)

My Lords, this matter was considered at the last meeting of the Committee on Road Safety, of which I am chairman. The Committee thought that while a code of headlamp signals might not be understood by the public generally and would lead to danger, there were times when a signal by flashing headlamps would be a useful alternative to a signal by the horn. They recommended the Minister of Transport to advise the public to this effect and to consider including in the next edition of the Highway Code a statement that a signal by headlamps is nothing more than an indication of one's presence on the road to some other road user who might otherwise be unaware of it. The flashing of headlamps would thus have the same significance as sounding the horn. The Minister proposes to accept the Committee's advice. He has informed various interested organisations that he intends to make a statement on these lines shortly.

LORD MONTAGU OF BEAULIEU

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for his Answer. I am sure this will be most welcome advice to motorists. Is the noble Lord aware that heavy commercial vehicles in particular are using, and have been doing so for some time, another signal which means "Come on"? Will they now be discouraged from using this signal? Otherwise, I am afraid accidents are going to happen.

LORD CHESHAM

It is really for the reason that such signals can be misunderstood that the Committee recommended against giving them recognition. I do not think it is possible to ban such a code completely, particularly one recognised among lorry drivers, but we should like to make quite certain what is the real significance of signals by flashing headlamps.