HC Deb 26 April 1989 vol 151 c568W
Mr. Atkinson

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many European Community countries require reversing safety systems to be fitted on vehicles;

(2) if he has any plans to introduce legislation requiring reversing safety systems to he fitted on all new vehicles; and if he will make a statement.

Dr. Hampson

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if in the light of the mounting level of accidents caused while vehicles are reversing, he will consider requiring large commercial vehicles to be fitted with the latest technology to enable obstacles to be detected in the path of a reversing vehicle.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

We have no plans to introduce legislation requiring any class of vehicle to be fitted with reversing safety systems. We know of no such legislation in any member state of the European Community.

Audible reversing alarms are permitted to be used on the road as a safety aid on buses, goods vehicles over 2 tonnes gross weight, refuse vehicles, engineering plant and works trucks.

There are very few serious injury accidents involving vehicles in reverse gear. Most drivers follow the very clear advice given in the "Highway Code."