§ Lord SWANSEAMy 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 marking the so-called "fast" lane of dual carriageway roads, and particularly motorways, in some distinctive manner, in order to impress upon motorists that this lane should be used only for overtaking.
§ Lord MELCHETTMy Lords, the possibility has been considered, but my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for the Environment has concluded that the practical difficulties and expense of such a step would outweigh the benefit.
§ Lord SWANSEAMy Lords, I am rather disappointed at the noble Lord's Answer. Would he not agree that hogging the outside lane in this way is a peculiarly selfish habit, and is particularly dangerous as it tempts other drivers to break the law by overtaking on the near side?
§ Lord MELCHETTMy Lords, I am sorry that the noble Lord is disappointed at the reply. Her Majesty's Government have looked into this matter with some care. I would agree with him that it is important that motorists should follow the rules about the correct use of lanes, which are clearly set out in the Highway Code and in the publication Driving. Her Majesty's Government have taken considerable steps to make sure that this information is given to the public. Two short films have been made and shown frequently on television, and 292 a short cinema film is currently being prepared.
§ Earl HOWEMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that our motorway, the M1, is now so very overcrowded at certain times of the day, particularly the rush hour, that a motorist is really forced to move along the third lane rather than weave from lane to lane, which is a rather dangerous manoeuvre?
§ Lord MELCHETTMy Lords, I am not quite sure which lane the noble Earl is saying the motorist is forced to stay in.
§ Earl HOWEMy Lords, most individuals think of this lane as the fast lane. As a matter of fact, the police refer to it as the third lane.
§ Lord MELCHETTMy Lords, my understanding is that it should correctly be referred to as the overtaking lane, and that is the important point to stress. It is not the fast lane, and motorists should not think of it as such.
§ Lord THOMASMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that if the right-hand lane is used only for overtaking it is a waste of a great deal of good motorway?
§ Lord NUGENT of GUILDFORDMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that the best way of getting effective lane discipline is to appoint a modest addition to the traffic police, whose presence on the motorway would very soon ensure correct observance of the Code.
§ Lord MELCHETTMy Lords, what the noble Lord says is, I am sure, quite right. It is, of course, very difficult to get motorists to observe this rule.
§ Lord REDESDALEMy Lords, can the noble Lord tell us what is being done to inform drivers of large articulated vehicles, particularly those from the Continent who come over and are not perhaps aware that they should not go into the third or overtaking lane? I remember an occasion when I assumed that a lorry would stay on the left-hand side but it moved over into the overtaking lane, which was rather frightening. I wonder what is being done to inform these drivers that they should not go into that lane?
§ Lord MELCHETTMy Lords, I have a feeling that that is a slightly 293 different question from the original Question on the Order Paper about markings on lanes. My understanding was that, on the whole, Continental drivers had a better reputation for sticking to the left—or the right, in their case—than drivers in this country.