§ Mr. Peter Walkerasked the Minister of Transport if she will postpone the installation of any further continental-type level crossings until the public inquiry into this subject has reported.
§ Mr. John MorrisThe hon. Member will know that my right hon. Friend has already announced her decision to withhold all further orders for automatic half-barriers at level crossings pending the formal investigation by Mr. E. Brian Gibbens, Q.C. Applications for orders at present before her will be held in abeyance. Where the order has been made and installation work begun, it will continue only in those cases where 91W the old gates have been removed. In all such cases an attendant will be kept at the crossing until my right hon. Friend has taken further decisions in the light of the investigation.
§ Mr. Peter Walkerasked the Minister of Transport if she will give details of
2nd January, 1968 … Ash Road. Sandwich, Kent. Van collided with train. 2 van occupants killed. 6th January, 1968 … Jacobs Gutter Lane, Eling, Hants. Car collided with train. 2 car occupants slightly injured. 6th January, 1968 … Hixon, Staffordshire Train struck road transporter carrying 120 ton transformer. Train derailed. 11 rail passengers killed, about 40 injured. Since automatic half-barriers were introduced in 1960 until the time of the accidents referred to above there were 4 collisions between road and rail vehicles at these crossings. There have been no accidents involving cyclists or pedestrians.
§ Dr. John Dunwoodyasked the Minister of Transport whether she will ensure that questions on the functioning of automatic level-crossings shall be amongst those asked of candidates for the driving test.
§ Mr. John MorrisIn the oral part of the driving test, a candidate is asked a selection of questions. These may be on any of the advice given in the Highway Code, including that about the level-crossings to which my hon. Friend refers.
It would obviously not be appropriate to ask each candidate one particular question.
§ Dr. John Dunwoodyasked the Minister of Transport if she will take steps to standardise road signs and ensure their visibility at automatic level-crossings.
§ Mr. John MorrisAs part of his investigation into automatic half-barrier level-crossings Mr. E. Brian Gibbens, Q.C. will no doubt advise my right hon. Friend whether any further action is necessary in this matter.
§ Dr. John Dunwoodyasked the Minister of Transport what precautions are being taken to prevent domestic and farm animals from straying on the railway line at automatic level-crossings with half-barriers.
§ Mr. John MorrisThe Ministry's requirements for automatic half-barrier level-crossings provide for specially designed guards at these level-crossings to92W the date and location of all accidents which have occurred during the past three months at continental-type level crossings.
§ Mr. John MorrisThere have been three collisions between road vehicles and trains at automatic half-barrier level crossings in the last three months:
make it difficult for animals to stray from the road along the railway line on either side of the crossing.