§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what study he has made of the incidence of accidents on motorways arising from the presence of vehicles being towed by others which are not specifically designed for towing; and under what circumstances it is permissible for such vehicles to enter the motorway system.
§ Mr. Kenneth CarlisleIn 1990 there were 32 casualty accidents involving a vehicle towing another vehicle on a motorway. This is approximately 0.5 per cent. of motorway accidents and one in 8,000 of all accidents. Information is not collected on whether the towing vehicle was designed for the purpose.
A vehicle being towed in such a manner constitutes a trailer and as such is prohibited from the right hand lane of three or more lane motorways.