§ 3.5 p.m.
§ LORD VERNONMy 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 construction of road traps, similar to those recently used to disinfect vehicles at boundaries of foot-and-mouth infected areas, as a means of enforcing the 30 m.p.h. speed limit in selected country villages.]
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS (LORD SHEPHERD)No. my Lords. We have studied a number of similar suggestions in the past, and there is a risk that devices of this kind might cause more accidents than they would save.
§ LORD VERNONMy Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord for replying to my Question, but may I ask whether he is aware of the really appalling conditions under which many people in these villages, perhaps a yard from the main road, live? In these villages heavy industrial traffic passes at anything up to 50 m.p.h. with complete impunity. Does he not think that what I have suggested would be a very cheap and effective way of enforcing the speed limit, and one, moreover, which would reduce the burden on the members of our already overstretched police force, who could then he diverted to more useful and important work?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, it would depend upon what type of device 1118 was used whether it would prove cheaper or more expensive; but I would assure the noble Lord that my right honourable friend is very much concerned with this problem, particularly as it affects villages on main roads. There is to be a major White Paper on speed limit policy issued quite shortly, and certainly the question of villages will be covered in that White Paper.
LORD FARINGDONMy Lords, has my noble friend heard that something of this sort is in use in France, and has been in use there for many years? One goes through a sort of dip in the road on either side of a village, and that is used to slow the traffic down. If my noble friend wants additional information, he can get it from the French punts et chaussées.
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, I am aware of that, and I am also aware of the ridge type of device that is to be found in some of the American air bases in this country. But I think our experience is that this type of device in fact increases the possibility of accidents quite appreciably.
§ LORD ELTONMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that it is not only a question of villages on high roads, but that there are plenty of villages well off the high roads where the speed limit is broken not, only by heavy traffic but by young gentlemen on motor-cycles going at anything up to 60 m.p.h. with almost complete impunity?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, I am well aware of the points the noble Lord has raised, and I hope that he mill feel some satisfaction when this major White Paper on speed limits is produced.
§ LORD HANKEYMy Lords, rather than thinking in terms of more and more restrictions, would it not be better if the Government thought of producing the sort of roads and by-passes which British industry needs?
§ LORD SHEPHERDYes, my Lords, if we had the money and Parliament felt it right to provide them.
§ LORD LEATHERLANDMy Lords, does my noble friend not think that if more and wider roads were provided that would bring more cars on to those roads, they would travel at a still higher 1119 speed, and there would be still more accidents?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, it might well be.
§ LORD SOMERSMy Lords, could the noble Lord give some undertaking that while speed limits are certainly necessary they will be rationalised before any desperate steps are taken to enforce them in the way suggested?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, the noble Lord clearly did not hear my answer to the first supplementary question, which was that there is to be a major White Paper on speed limit policy. I think the noble Lord will find his answer there.