§ Mr. Greville Jannerasked the Minister of Transport whether he will give advice to motorists on the use of dipped headlights when driving in hours of darkness in built-up areas.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe law already requires headlamps to be used at night except where the road is lit by street lamps not more than 200 yards apart. In addition, rule 112 of the Highway Code says that dipped headlamps should be298W used in built-up areas unless the road is well lit and that headlamps should always be used on lighted motorways and other high speed roads. Motorists must always use their own judgment and commonsense in deciding whether dipped headlights are needed in the road conditions they are encountering.
§ Miss Fookesasked the Minister of Transport, in view of the surveys of dipped headlight usage in towns at night undertaken in the summers of 1978 and 1979 by the Night Safety Advisory Bureau, when he will undertake a further national survey to determine whether dipped headlight usage has increased since the 83 per cent. figures disclosed in the last survey by his Department in January 1978.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeMy right hon. Friend doubts the need to expend public funds on such a survey. Although there has been a trend towards greater use of dipped headlamps in towns at night, he is not at present contemplating any change in the law on this.