HL Deb 16 May 1986 vol 474 cc1388-90

11.14 a.m.

Lord Brougham and Vaux

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the introduction of the tyre regulations amendments incorporating the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Regulation 64 will be a road safety benefit particularly in view of the fact that 1986 is European Road Safety Year.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Transport (The Earl of Caithness)

My Lords, these regulations are aimed at clarifying our law and aligning it with the rest of Europe where nonstandard spare tyres are permitted. The Government see no good reason to prevent them being supplied and used in this country subject to the safety conditions in the regulations.

Lord Brougham and Vaux

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that Answer. Does he not consider that it is safe to use a non-standard, or skinny, spare tyre of a different construction—for example, crossply and radial—on the same axle as a standard wheel and tyre? That is a practice which, for sound safety reasons, is not permitted with a standard-size tyre.

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, I know the House appreciates my noble friend's concern for spare tyres, and that was very visible before Easter! We are satisfied that using a temporary-use spare, whether of crossply or radial construction, is safe up to a maximum proposed speed limit of 50 miles per hour. Tests conducted by the TRRL included tyres of different construction.

Lord Underhill

My Lords, does not the noble Lord the Minister recall the press notice issued on 21st March, No. 141, on that very matter? It referred not only to those tyres being safe, for braking purposes, up to 50 miles per hour but also said that that is provided they are used in an emergency for a short distance. Precisely what is a short distance?

Can the noble Earl further say what would be the position regarding insurance in the event of anyone driving a vehicle with one of those temporary tyres over 50 miles an hour? What would legal opinion say is a long distance rather than a short distance? What publicity will be given to avoid the possibility of motorists' insurance being affected?

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, as the noble Lord will be aware, those temporary-use spare tyres have been used for a long time in Europe and in America without detriment. As to the precise definition of a short distance, because it is a temporary-use spare it is designed to enable motorists to reach either home or a competent repairer. As I understand the position, the tyre can be used without detriment as long as the tread remains legal.

Lord Tordoff

My Lords, is the Minister aware that those tyres operate at a different pressure from normal tyres and that many motorway service stations are not equipped with air pressure gauges and pumps which will pump up those tyres to the required pressure? How will the Minister make the public aware of the differences in the use of those tyres both in terms of having different plys on different axles, as the noble Lord asked (which is something we have been trying for many years to persuade people not to do) and also on this question of different pressures?

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, the regulation requires a warning notice to be displayed on the temporary-use wheel and instructions given in the owner's manual. I believe that that, together with the fact that the wheel has to be of a different colour, will remind any user of the wheel of that necessity.

Lord Underhill

My Lords, I am sorry to rise again, but the noble Earl said in one of his replies that those tyres can be used for a short distance until the motorist is able to reach a service station. Will the noble Earl tell me what would by my position, assuming I can get away from your Lordships' House in time, when I am having my usual holiday in the Highlands (where service stations are few and far between) and my distance to one will be longer than a short distance?

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, although we welcome the noble Lord to the Highlands—we all look forward to getting up to the Highlands for some fresh air and away from the smog of London—his position will be no different from that when he is using a traditional tyre provided he abides by the regulations and does not drive faster than 50 miles an hour. If the noble Lord visits the Highlands he will find that in most villages there are garages that will be able w look after him.

Lord Brougham and Vaux

My Lords, if I heard my noble friend correctly, he said that the Americans are using those tyres, but America has a 50 or 55 miles per hour speed limit in most places. Is my noble friend aware that Scandinavia is most unhappy with those tyres?

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, there are some countries in Europe that have faster speed limits than this country and they are happy to use those tyres.