§ Sir W. Brassasked the Minister of Transport whether, as a result of the recent Appeal Court decision where the use of a mechanically-operated stop indicator, without the addition of a hand signal, was found to be insufficient to indicate the intention of a driver to stop, he proposes, by new regulations or amending legislation, to remedy this position and also to make it clear in law that in future a mechanically-operated direction signal, even without the addition of a hand signal, will be a sufficient indication of a contemplated change in direction, so as to be in conformity with the instructions in the Highway Code to the effect that hand signals should be used where mechanical indicators are not used?
§ Mr. BurginI am advised that, under the Court of Appeal decision, to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers, the question whether a mechanical indicator is by iself an adequate warning remains, as it was before, a question of fact to be determined according to the particular circumstances and the particular manner in which the indicator is used. The Highway Code recognised the use of mechanical signals, but did not confer upon them any greater adequacy in law than they may be found to have in fact. As at present advised, I do not think that it is necessary to disturb this position.