§ Mr. Oakesasked the Secretary of State for the Transport (1) when he will introduce amendments to the construction and use regulations to minimise the emission of spray from heavy goods vehicles;
(2) whether he proposes to take steps to reduce the emission of spray from the tyres of existing heavy goods vehicles;
(3) if he proposes to include buses in the regulations to reduce the emission of spray from the tyres of motor vehicles;
(4) how many systems of spray reduction from the tyres of heavy goods vehicles have to date been tested; and from which companies;
(5) if he has now completed the tests on the methods of reducing spray from heavy goods vehicles.
§ Mrs. ChalkerThe British Standards Institution has a committee working to produce a standard in 1983. Regulations on spray reduction equipment will be introduced as soon as this standard is available. It is too early to specify the precise categories of heavy vehicle to be covered by the regulations.
At least 10 different spray reduction systems have been tested and trials are continuing, but it would be inappropriate to name those organisations concerned.
§ Mr. Oakesasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any statistics relating to accidents, particularly on motorways, which have resulted from spray from one vehicle impeding the vision of the driver of another vehicle.
§ Mrs. ChalkerI regret that there are no such statistics.