§ Mr. Gregoryasked the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to assist large vehicles to reverse more safely.
§ Mrs. Chalker:The Government have decided to make provisions for the use of audible reversing alarms. Although these alarms have been illegal in many circumstances up to now, I know that a number of local authorities and bus companies have been using them as a useful safety device for some time. We are now establishing a legal framework to allow their use on certain types of vehicle with suitable safeguards to avoid their becoming a nuisance.
Regulations have been laid down which will permit the use of reversing alarms on commercial vehicles over 2 tonnes gross weight, on large passenger vehicles with nine or more seats, including the driver, on engineering plant and on works trucks. But the alarms will still be illegal on private cars.
The alarms will be subject to the same night-time restrictions as apply to the standard horn and must not be capable of being confused with the "safe to cross" signal on a pelican crossing.
This change in the regulations does not diminish the responsibilities of the driver, who must always take the greatest care with any reversing manoeuvre.