§ 58. Sir Clive Bossomasked the Minister of Transport, whether she will introduce interim safety measures for the 200 continental safety barriers on crossings, whilst waiting for the Hixon Report to be published; and when is it now expected the Report will be ready for publication.
§ Mr. John MorrisSeveral additional safeguards have already been introduced to help to ensure the safe use of automatic half-barrier crossings. Lists of the locations of these crossings, showing map references, have been widely circulated within the haulage industry and made generally available; additional clauses have been included in the Special Orders which authorise the movement of certain abnormal loads, requiring drivers to telephone the signalman before going over these crossings; and letters have been sent to all operators of goods vehicles exceeding 10 tons unladen weight emphasising the need for their drivers to carry out the same procedure.
I cannot say at this stage when Mr. E. Brian Gibbens, Q.C. will be in a position to present his report. The public hearings continued from 26th February to 20th March, with evidence taken from 38 witnesses. They will be resumed on 29th April. During the adjournment Mr. Gibbens and his assessors are to visit France and Holland to look at automatic level crossings in those countries.