HL Deb 06 March 1968 vol 289 cc1341-3

2.37 p.m.

LORD FOLEY

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 have any report to make on the experiment carried out recently in a defined area where, for a period, dimmed headlights, after dark, were made compulsory; and whether or not it is their intention in the near future to make statutory the use of dimmed headlights throughout the United Kingdom.]

THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF PUBLIC BUILDING AND WORKS (LORD WINTERBOTTOM)

My Lords, the only experiments involving the use of dimmed headlamps were undertaken on a limited basis in the London area using General Post Office vans and some taxis. The results were inconclusive. The Minister is still considering policy on the use of headlamps.

LORD FOLEY

My Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for his Answer, may I ask whether, in view of the fact that this practice has been commonplace in American cities for many years now, he does not think that the evidence is sufficient to justify trying the experiment in a more widespread way in this country?

LORD WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, in fact there have been three experiments in this field. The Minister is studying them and, as I said earlier, the results are inconclusive. The study is continuing.

LORD ALLERTON

My Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether I am right in thinking that an experiment was carried out in the City of Birmingham which was considered locally to be very successful?

LORD WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, the noble Lord is correct. Locally it was considered to be successful, and that is one of the factors that will influence my right honourable friend when she comes to reach a decision on this subject.

LORD CHAMPION

My Lords, do the Question and the Answer refer to dimmed headlights or to dipped headlights, which seem to me to be a rather different feature?

LORD WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, my noble friend has raised a rather technical point. We have dipped headlights and dimmed dipped headlights. Experiments have been carried out in both fields. I think the difference is that in one case the headlight is dipped, and in the other case it is dimmed. We have not yet decided what is the best thing to do.

LORD SALTOUN

My Lords, is it not important, in any regulations that are made in this matter, to be very careful that in complying with the law drivers do not so disable themselves that they kill somebody? They would not be altogether to blame. Therefore, a certain latitude must be allowed in difficult places.

LORD WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, I think that is entirely correct. There is a lot of difference between whether one dips a headlight or does not dip it. There is no question about it when one travels at 70 miles an hour or does not travel at 70 miles an hour. But there is an element of personal decision here which is of importance.

THE DUKE OF ATHOLL

My Lords, would not the noble Lord agree that one of the factors that would help in this problem is better street lighting? I do not know whether the noble Lord would agree, but my impression is that, except for the important main roads, the street lighting in Birmingham is much less good than it is, for instance, in London.

LORD WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, I am afraid that I do not have the noble Duke's knowledge of Birmingham. But street lighting is obviously a factor.

VISCOUNT STONEHAVEN

My Lords, would the noble Lord not agree that most cars are fitted with a dipping device, but remarkably few are fitted with a dimming device? Therefore, could this dipped/dimmed controversy be put on to a proper basis?

LORD WINTERBOTTOM

Yes, my Lords. That is what my right honourable friend is, in fact, studying. There are various alternatives, and this is one of them.

LORD TREFGARNE

My Lords, can the noble Lord say when his right honourable friend is likely to reach a decision in this matter, or will it be indefinitely postponed as some other projects are?

LORD WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, nothing is indefinitely postponed by this Government. A decision will be reached at the proper time.