Brake Rules Soon
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,DRAFT regulations on the braking standards for new goods vehicles of mare than 30 cwt, unladen weight would be circulated as soon as possible, reported the Minister of Transport in the Commons last week. A draft code of practice for the brakes of these medium-sized eoods vehicles would be considered by his working party on brakes early in the autumn,
Mr. Fraser pointed out that following regulations made last year his working party had published a draft code of practice for the brakes of ce'rtain categories of heavier goods vehicles.
"1 regard all the work being done to improve brakes as a matter of great. importance and 1 much appreciate the co-operation which my department is receiving from all sides of industry and the other members of the working party".' he added.
Lighting Guidance
THE Ministry of Transport hoped to give more guidance shortly about the vehicle lights that should be used when driving in towns, said Mr, Stephen Swingler, Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry, last week. He warned that it was extremely difficult to generalize and lay down regulations on the subject because there were so many variations of conditions in towns according to the standard of lighting. Mr. Jeremy Thorpe (Liberal. North Devon) claimed that one of the hazards of undipped lights would be substantially removed if in future all lights were fitted with yellow bulbs, as was done so widely on the Continent—while Mr. Clive Bossom (Tory, Leominster) asked for a ban on all driving on sidelights, especially in towns and cities.
These two matters were being discussed now with the motor manufacturers in relation to the design of lights, replied Mr. Swingler.
Fewer Heavies in Accidents I AST year there was a decrease of 1•1 per cent in the number of accidents involving heavy vehicles, compared with 1963, reported the Minister of Transport last week. At the same time the number of current licences rose by' 2-2 per cent. In the period January-April 1965 there was an increase of 3-6 per cent in the number of accidents, compared with the same period in 1964. added Mr. Fraser. but no figures were available yet of the growth in the number of these vehicles in 1965.