HC Deb 06 February 1978 vol 943 cc387-8W
Mr. Onslow

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many applications for pelican crossings he has refused in each of the past three years.

Mr. Horam

There are no statistics on such refusals. Formal applications are rarely refused because local authorities know the Department's criteria and often discuss their proposals for installation of pelican crossings with the Department before making formal application.

Mr. Onslow

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many road accidents are known to have been caused, in each of the past three years, by sudden braking on the part of motorists who have subconsciously assumed that a green light at a pelican crossing will not change to red.

Mr. Horam

There is no means of compiling accident statistics on the basis of the subconscious assumptions of the motorists involved; accidents of the kind which the hon. Member describes are probably infrequent, but they could occur more often if the criteria for the installation of pelican crossings were unduly relaxed.

Mr. Onslow

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of the 60 per cent. of pedestrian crossings that were removed in the 1960s were light-controlled.

Mr. Horam

No precise figures are available, but the majority of the crossings that have been removed were Belisha crossings.

Mr. Onslow

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department has undertaken into the possibility that a motorist who has formed the habit of ignoring red lights at empty pelican crossings will then start to disregard other traffic signals.

Mr. Horam

None.