§ Lembit ÖpikTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department is taking to encourage the development and use of practical alternatives to permanent tints of less than 50 per cent. light transmittance in motorcycle visors for daytime use only; and if he will make a statement. [119929]
§ Mr. JamiesonI have called for standards bodies to encourage the development of visor designs that lend themselves to both day and night time use. I understand that the relevant technical committee at the British Standards Institution has decided that the matter should be brought to the attention of the corresponding technical committee at the International Standards Organisation.
In addition, the Department is planning new research on motorcyclists' helmets and visors that, among other things, would include work to:
- (i) help develop requirements better suited to light reactive visor materials or other means of dealing with low sun and sun glare; and
- (ii) evaluate new visor concepts.
The research is expected to start in September this year and finish by November 2005.