Mr. Vaneasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether his attention has been drawn to the noise made by motor cycles, particularly when accelerating; and whether he is satisfied that his regulations ensure that the silencers normally fitted by manufacturers are as efficient as can be reasonably expected.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterThe answer to both parts of the Question is "Yes." Regulation 20 of the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1955 requires that every vehicle propelled by an internal combustion engine shall be fitted with a silencer, expansion chamber or other contrivance suitable and sufficient for reducing as far as may be 209W reasonable the noise caused by the escape of the exhaust gases from the engine. Regulation 77 requires that the equipment shall be maintained in good condition and Regulation 82 requires that no motor vehicle shall be used on the road in such manner as to cause any excessive noise which could have been avoided by the exercise of reasonable care on the part of the driver.