§ Mr. Kershawasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what advice he is seeking about the legal implications of installing and operating devices for 553W controlling remotely the brakes of a motor car; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what experiments are being made into the remote control of the brakes of a motor car; who is conducting these experiments; what they have cost; and how much more money it is proposed to spend.
§ Mr. CarmichaelThere are no experiments in progress or planned on application of motor car brakes by remote control from the roadside. In current work on accident risks arising from "close following", a vehicle-borne radar device is being used to measure headways and rates of closure, which are being studied in relation both to driver perception and response. It is in principle feasible to use this device to apply brakes automatically as well as to warn; but development work towards automatic brake application in cars is not at present thought profitable. Accordingly, no consideration is being given to the legal implications of installing and using any such device.