§ Mr. Martenasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce regulations to make rear mud-flags on road vehicles and lateral mud-flaps on large lorries compulsory.
§ Mr. MulleyNo. Experiments by my Department's Transport and Road Research Laboratory have shown that neither mudguards nor mudflaps can trap spray which is thrown out sideways between the tyres and the road surface, while side protection presents problems for the cooling and accessibility of brakes and tyres. Research is nevertheless continuing.