§ Sir Julian Ridsdaleasked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) whether he will make a statement concerning the recent incidence of accidents on the M25 and the M5 motorways involving car transporters;
(2) whether he is satisfied with the operation of the regulations relating to avoidance of danger for car transporters on roads;
(3) whether he will consider including car transporter vehicles in a code similar to the code for vehicles carrying dangerous loads;
(4) whether the Health and Safety Executive is enforcing the tying-down of cars to transporter structures on a national basis;
(5) now that many transporters are being introduced with three decks, whether he is satisfied that all the new designs are adequately tested and approved;
(6) whether he is satisfied with the operation of the law with regard to new triple deck transporters over tying down; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyWe are aware of only one recent accident involving car transporters. This was on the M5 on 10 July. I shall write to my hon. Friend about this when more information is available.
Car transporters with three decks have been used safely for many years. There are no statutory design requirements for these vehicles beyond those that apply to heavy goods vehicles generally.
The construction and use regulations require loads to be carried so as not to be a danger or nuisance to others. This is backed by the Department's code of practice on the safety of loads on vehicles which gives general advice for the securing of vehicles on other vehicles. The police, not the HSE, are responsible for enforcing the law governing the carriage of loads on vehicles.