§ Mr. Speirasked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that a large number of accidents, many of a fatal 104W character, still take place every winter in Great Britain through the skidding of motor vehicles and motor bicycles on ice-and frost-bound roads, and that widely different practices exist between highway authorities as to the amounts of grit, sand and salt they spread on the roads for which they are responsible; and whether, in the interest of accident prevention, he will arrange for regular, timely and efficient anti-skidding precautions to be taken by all highway authorities on a uniform basis.
§ Mr. MarplesYes, I know that many accidents happen in this way. On the roads for which I am the highway authority, a sustained effort is being made to improve the speed and efficiency of preventive measures, and is showing good results. The results of our experience with any new materials, appliances or techniques are made known to local highway authorities, who can adopt on their own roads those which prove successful. Local highway authorities are increasingly alive to the importance of timely and effective action, especially on the busiest and fastest traffic routes. Varying standards of performance are, however, inevitable, particularly in relation to secondary roads, in view of the wide differences of topography, traffic and climate between one area and another.