§ 2.35 p.m.
THE EARL OF GOSFORDMy 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 introduction of a warning sign to be carried by motorists, which they could place on the road in the event of break-down to notify other road users that their vehicle had broken down, thus helping to reduce accidents.]
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT (LORD CHESHAM)My Lords, my right honourable friend has given careful consideration to the problem of reducing the serious accidents which occur, especially at night, as a result of collisions with vehicles which have broken down on the highway. Investigations have been carried out by the Road Research Laboratory, and the problem has been examined in the light of the recommendations of the Sub-Committee on Road Transport of the Economic Commission for Europe. Whilst there is still no direct evidence which points to the conclusion that any appreciable number of accidents would be saved by the introduction of warning signs, my right honourable friend has nevertheless decided to seek powers to legalise the use of such signs by road-users under conditions to be prescribed by Regulation. We hope that appropriate provision can be proposed in the form of a new clause to be introduced into the Road Traffic Bill now before Parliament.
THE EARL OF GOSFORDMy Lords, I am most grateful to my noble friend for his very satisfactory Answer, which I 848 am sure will result in the saving of many lives which would otherwise be lost. May I ask my noble friend whether he can give some idea of the timing upon which this legislation will be based?
§ LORD CHESHAMMy Lords, that is rather more difficult. I said I hoped it would be possible to introduce a new clause, but this matter calls for some thought and complicated drafting. Your Lordships will appreciate that at present the use of such devices is specifically forbidden by law, and to change this round is rather complicated. But we are anxious to establish the basis on which to carry on the operation experimentally.
§ BARONESS WOOTTON OF ABINGERMy Lords, in the meantime would the noble Lord consider whether, when there is a breakdown at night, the police might be asked to place lights against the broken down vehicle? I think that has happened in some cases, and the police are most helpful about it. Would that not be a possible solution in the interim?
§ LORD CHESHAMMy Lords, I agree, as the noble Baroness says, that that is already done where the police know about the broken-down vehicle. But there must be quite a number of occasions when vehicles break down and this is not reported to the police, and therefore they can take no action.
LORD REAMy Lords, may I ask the noble Lord about a small point of clarification. Those of us who have motored on the Continent, and particularly in Italy, will know that these devices exist and some of us have brought them home with us. I refer to a triangle with red reflecting discs in it—which I have used, perhaps wrongly, in the case of a breakdown—put some distance from the broken-down car. Will he confirm whether this is outside the law and is illegal?
§ LORD CHESHAMYes, my Lords, that is so. I did say that earlier, and I confirm it. The point about the Italian devices is that Italy is so far the only country to have tried them, but we can find no evidence as to what are the results, except that they suffer from the further disadvantage of blowing over in any wind of more than eight miles per hour.
THE EARL OF GOSFORDMy Lords, may I ask my friend one more question—namely, is the legislation likely to be permissive, or will motorists be compelled to have one of these devices, whatever they are?
§ LORD CHESHAMMy Lords, in the early stages, and until we know how the thing should be properly carried out and experiments have been conducted, it will be permissive.