§ 77. Lieut.-Colonel Bromley-Davenportasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is aware that in the newly-issued Highway Code a person riding and leading a horse is advised to keep to the left of the highway whilst a pedestrian is advised to walk on the right of the highway if there is no footpath; having regard to these directions, on which side of the road a pedestrian leading a horse should walk; and how far the decision in such a case depends on whether there is a footpath available.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterNo such advice is in fact given to a person leading a horse. On the contrary Paragraph 70 advises anyone leading a horse to place himself on the traffic side of the horse. This is good horse sense.
§ 78. Lieut.-Colonel Bromley-Davenportasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is aware that in the new Highway Code groups of pedestrians are advised to walk on the right whilst marching bodies are advised to walk on the left; on what grounds the decision to differentiate between marchers and hikers was based; and whether he will take steps to minimise the confusion which may be caused by the present wording of the Code.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI do not think there is any confusion here. Organised marching bodies with lookouts front and rear and lights at night are safer and less obstructive to traffic when they are marching on the left. Individuals and small groups of pedestrians are safer on the right.