HL Deb 21 January 1975 vol 356 cc2-4

2.58 p.m.

The Earl of KIMBERLEY

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 proposals for erecting anti-dazzle barriers on motorways.

Lord MELCHETT

My Lords, no. The Government are awaiting the out-come of the trial installation of anti-dazzle screen on the M6 motorway in Warwickshire.

The Earl of KIMBERLEY

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that Answer. Do the Government realise that in Ger-many, for instance, there are very many anti-dazzle barriers consisting of hedges? These need very little maintenance and are of help to drivers at night, particularly when it is raining.

Lord MELCHETT

My Lords, I was not aware that in Germany hedges are used as anti-dazzle screens. According to my information they use screens, similar to the one on the trial length of the M6, on short stretches where there is a particular problem. However, we have not been able to obtain any statistics as to whether or not the screens used in Germany have reduced accidents.

Lord MOWBRAY and STOURTON

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that some 20 months ago, when I was in his place, I was answering Questions to the effect that we would as soon as possible, sooner rather than later, be erecting barriers down the centre of the M roads? Would it not be possible when these barriers are erected, for the anti-dazzle device to be incorporated with them?

Lord MELCHETT

My Lords, I am most interested to hear from the noble Lord, Lord Mowbray and Stourton, that he was in exactly the same place as I am in today. I daresay there was a slight political difference! The screens are erected on top of the safety barriers and cost a great deal of money, and the Government feel it would not be wise to incur the expense involved until the outcome of the trial is known.

Lord JANNER

My Lords, has the noble Lord considered putting rows of trees and bushes as barriers on the roads, as is done in the United States to a considerable extent? These would not only stop dazzle, but would also prevent many accidents.

Lord MELCHETT

My Lords, it occurs to me that if one planted trees on the central reservations they would pre-sent a considerable accident problem if they were blown over.

Lord ALLERTON

My Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether I am right in thinking that until comparatively recently there was an anti-dazzle screen on the Ml somewhere in the neighbour-hood of Luton? I believe that that has since been removed. What were the findings of the Government in connection with that experiment?

Lord MELCHETT

My Lords, there was a two-mile length of expanded metal mesh anti-dazzle fence on the Ml between 1960 and 1965. It was removed after a five-year period when it was found that the number of accidents on that stretch, compared with the number on a comparable stretch of motorway, had actually increased both during daylight and darkness. One of the reasons for the increase in the number of accidents was that there was no central barrier on motorways in those days. When people ran into the mesh fencing they caused a recordable accident, whereas people who ran on to a central reservation where there was no mesh fence did not cause a recordable accident. The answer is that there were no satisfactory conclusions from that experiment.