§ Mr. Colemanasked the Minister of Transport what research has been carried out by his Department into the problem of water spray during wet weather from heavy goods vehicles, especially on motorways; and whether he has any proposals to obviate this hazard on motorways.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeResearch has been carried out on both road design and vehicle modifications with the aim of reducing spray. Several stretches of pervious road surfaces on motorways and trunk roads have been tested over the past five years, and the results are currently being evaluated. Tests of experimental mudguard designs and airflow devices on heavy goods vehicles have been carried out, and a report of these is being printed for publication. The general conclusion of the report is that no satisfactory solution has yet been found to the problem of spray. However, further work on vehicle design is to be carried out in collaboration with the University of Southampton in the current financial year, and we are at present engaged in evaluating certain devices developed by individual firms.