THE EARL OF DUNDONALDMy 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, with a view to reducing the accident risk, particularly on motorways, they have further considered making the use of yellow headlamp bulbs or yellow headlamp glass compulsory on motor vehicles.]
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE, R.A.F. (LORD WINTERBOTTOM)My Lords, the evidence suggests that no advantage would be gained by making yellow headlamps compulsory.
THE EARL OF DUNDONALDMy Lords, I thank the Minister for his brief reply. I should like to ask him one or two supplementary questions. First, is the noble Lord aware that tests conducted by the Road Research Laboratory in 1954 were not carried out in fog or mist, and only in simulated rain conditions; secondly, that in that Report yellow beams were considered by the majority to be less glaring than white, and also that in simulated glare conditions, yellow lights were stated to give better visibility? I take this information from the Road Research Laboratory Report 1954.
§ LORD WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, I was not aware of the way in which these particular tests were carried out. If the noble Lord will allow me, I will raise these points with the Road Research Laboratory and let him have their comments upon the effectiveness of the test.
LORD NUGENT or GUILDFORDMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that a certain mystery overhangs this situation? Is he aware that the Road Research Laboratory used to take the view that there was no benefit in the use of yellow lights for anti-dazzle purposes but have now changed their view and regard it as having a benefit? Would the noble Lord let us into the mystery? Would he ask the Road Research Laboratory to give us a clear statement of all the pros and cons, and to say what has caused them to change their view and what advice they can give as to which kind of bulb would be best in the general interests of safety on the road?
§ LORD TREFGARNEMy Lords, has the noble Lord, or have the Government, considered evidence from European countries, in particular France, where I understand that yellow bulbs are mandatory?
§ LORD WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, I think it is significant that only France among European countries has decided that yellow light is better than white under adverse conditions. This does not mean to say that the majority is always right, but it may mean also that the British view is right in this matter.
THE EARL OF DUNDONALDMy Lords, the noble Lord has kindly said that he will look into this matter and write to me. Will he please take into account that at present we are dealing with Mr. and Mrs. Average Motorist, with cars of an average nature, which possibly are not fitted with fog lamps, with an expanding car population, and with an increase in motorways?
§ LORD WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, I most certainly will.
§ LORD WYNNE-JONESMir Lords, would not my noble friend agree that any form of filter is extremely good for reducing the quantity of light.
§ LORD WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, one of the factors is that the number of lumens (as I believe they are called) emitted by a yellow headlight is substantially lower—I believe 20 per cent. lower—than that emitted by a white light.