HL Deb 07 July 1975 vol 362 cc583-5
Lord AYLESTONE

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 will consider making wing mirrors compulsory on all new motor cars in the interest of road safety, and take the views of motoring organisations and other interested bodies as to the safety value of such a step.

The PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY of STATE, DEPARTMENT of the ENVIRONMENT (Baroness Birk)

My Lords, my honourable friend the Minister of Transport is urgently examining the requirement for rear-view mirrors on new motor cars.

Lord AYLESTONE

My Lords, may I ask my noble friend whether these inquiries will take into consideration the fact that no matter how good the interior rear-view mirror is it usually has a blind spot? I am suggesting that wing mirrors might help in this direction.

Baroness BIRK

Yes, most certainly, my Lords. I think I can say that my honourable friend the Minister of Transport is himself very keen on bringing this in as soon as possible.

Lord MOWBRAY and STOURTON

My Lords, is the noble Baroness aware that two years ago the Answer given from her Ministry was the same as that which she has just given?

Baroness BIRK

No, my Lords, I am not aware, but I did not give the Answer. This time what I have said is absolutely true; the Minister of Transport is reviewing the position now.

Lord BALFOUR of INCHRYE

My Lords, arising out of that reply, may I ask whether the Minister will introduce regulations to make it compulsory to look in the mirror, and how he will enforce that requirement?

Baroness BIRK

My Lords, all we can do is have an extra mirror there and hope that with the number of mirrors the motorist has he might, even inadvertently, look in one or other of them.

Lord PEDDIE

My Lords, will my noble friend inform the House whether there exists any statutory body which maintains continuing liaison with the motor industry on these matters relating to public safety?

Baroness BIRK

No, my Lords. The Ministry of Transport is now part of the Department of the Environment, and it does this. Any draft regulation is put out through the motoring organisations and other bodies for consultation.

Lord POPPLEWELL

My Lords, has my noble friend looked up the past history in connection with this subject? The noble Lord, Lord Mowbray, has informed her that she has now given the same reply as he personally gave some two years ago. As a motorist, she will know that unless the side mirrors are properly adjusted there is a blank spot. Will my noble friend inform the House later what research is taking place with a view to eliminating the blank spot, which remains even if you have both a wing mirror and an inside mirror? There will have to be a kind of convex mirror, or something like that. This is a danger that causes very near-misses and accidents from time to time.

Baroness BIRK

Yes, my Lords, I am aware of that fact, and also that the last Answer on this matter was given by a Conservative Government and not by this Government. The problem of whether there should be a door or a wing mounting is one of the matters which is being taken into consideration. If the mirror is on the door, it can be adjusted by the driver. On the other hand, there are supposed to be some advantages if it is on the wing. This is one of the reasons why the idea of having more than one rear mirror is under consideration at the present time. But, of course, nothing really takes the place of careful driving by the motorist, and using the mirrors effectively.

Lord AIREDALE

My Lords, is it advisable to allow people to obscure their rear windows with posters saying, "Vote for Bloggs" or "Hogsnorton Village Fete"?

Baroness BIRK

No, my Lords, it is not, but that is another question. Unless they want to commit suicide or homicide, I think most people who have a poster put it where it does not stop them seeing.

Lord DAVIES of LEEK

My Lords, is my noble friend aware, first, that we appreciate the work of the Road Research Laboratory; and, secondly, that the plethora and over-burdening of signs on the road have now become confusing? Thirdly, is she aware that I once drove through a red sign because a green chemist's bottle was five yards behind it in a chemist's shop, and I thought the light was green? We have too many signs and too many accidents.

Baroness BIRK

My Lords. I was not aware of that until my noble friend told me. I find it very interesting, and I hope it does not happen again.