M1 Shadows : No Action Yet
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N°immediate action would be taken concerning the shadows on Ml, Mr. Ernest Marples, Minister of Transport, told the House of Commons, this week, in answer to a question by Mr. Albert Roberts (Lab., Normanton), writes our Parliamentary Correspondent.. The present position, he said, is that the police have been asked to report, the Road Research Laboratory is considering the matter and the Ministry is reviewing that evidence which is already available. There are to be no toll charges for using the second Black wall Tunnel, which is due to open for traffic in 1965. There were special reasons for this, Mr. Marples told Mr. N. N. Dodds (Lab., Erith), who asked why there should be no charges when tolls would be imposed for using the new Dartford-Purfleet Tunnel. Mr. Marples explained that the new Blackwall Tunnel would cater only for one-way traffic, and because no tolls were charged on the existing tunnel, which would also become one-way, it would be ridiculous to charge tolls on the new one. The suggestion, by Mr. Gresham Cooke (Cons., Twickenham), that the demerit points system as operated in Ontario should be used here, was rejected by Mr. Marples. He said that he was not at present satisfied that the system was suitable for this country. Under this scheme an accumulation of 12 points for driving Dffences over a two-year period brought suspension of the driving licence for three months. Asked by Mr. A. Wedgwood Bean (Lab., Bristol S.E.) whether the Ministry were studying the experiences of foreign countries in respect of road safety, Mr. Marples said that a very good film on the subject would beshowing soon. Manufacturers and other parties interested in regulations governing traffic indicators are to be consulted about possible new regulations. Mr. John Hay, Joint Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Transport, told Sir Gerald Wills (Cons., Bridgwater) this, and said the Ministry were studying recommendations made at an international meeting last month, with a view to allying them to British regulations. Asked by Mr. Wingfield Digby (Cons., Dorset W.) whether he would consider replacing white lines on roads by yellow ones, Mr. Marples pointed out that yellow markings had been prescribed to indicate that loading and unloading was prohibited. The texture of marking materials was more important than the colour, and cat's eyes gave the best definition at night, he said.
COMPETITION CHANGES
THE annual drawing and handicraft competition arranged by the Institute of British Carriage and Automobile Manufacturers is to be replaced by two separate competitions offering larger and more numerous prizes. One will deal with .automobile body design and the other with motor vehicle body crafts. This year the design competition will cover private cars and next year it will relate only to commercial and public service vehicles. The annual alternation of subjects will operate from then onwards although the body craft competition will be held each year.