HL Deb 22 May 1968 vol 292 cc676-7

2.43 p.m.

LORD LEATHERLAND

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 there are any regulations which govern the combinations of musical notes that may be incorporated in the sounds made by motor horns on private vehicles; and if there are, whether adequate measures are taken to enforce them.]

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

My Lords, there is no such regulation, but two-tone horns may be fitted only to police, fire, ambulance and certain other special service vehicles used for emergency purposes.

LORD LEATHERLAND

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that Answer, which I can hardly accept as being very satisfactory. Is my noble friend aware that a few days ago a car drew level with mine and emitted, suddenly and stridently, a series of notes which I immediately identified as the first bar of the refrain to that stirring military march, Colonel Bogey? Does my noble friend realise that a less placid driver might have had his attention distracted, to the peril of people on the road; and will my noble friend please urge upon the Minister of Transport the need to do something about such things as this—a task which he may probably find easier, now that the Minister is a gentleman and not a lady?

LORD WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, my noble friend imputes to me a measure of omniscience which I do not possess. If my noble friend overcame this difficulty with such equanimity, I am certain that many others also will do so in the future. There is no regulation against playing Colonel Bogey on a motor horn.

LORD GRANVILLE OF EYE

My Lords, in view of the fact that some of these startling instruments which are being used on private vehicles appear to be designed for the purpose of frightening people and making one jump, may I ask my noble friend whether it is possible under existing regulations to ban their use? Can he say whether the number of mobile police has been increased in order to try to check this growing anarchy of noise on the roads?

LORD WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, I think that the existing police force is dealing with all problems of road safety. The police are a sensible group of men. If there were obviously an abuse of the use of horns of this type, they would take notice of it. There is no specific regulation forbidding the use of such a horn.

LORD KILBRACKEN

My Lords, am I to understand that two-tone horns are probihited but that there is nothing to prevent the use of three-tone, four-tone or five-tone horns, or even horns with a higher number of tones?

LORD WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations retain the right to use two-tone horns for various official vehicles. Anybody else can have a complete octave if he wishes.

LORD GRANVILLE OF EYE

My Lords, arising out of the Answer given by my noble friend, may I ask whether, in the contemplated legislation with regard to noise, it is intended to deal with this growing menace?

LORD WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, that is another question.