No Compulsory Indicators Yet
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MANY traffic accidents were due to ILL the absence of adequate indicator signals on trailers behind heavy lorries, Mr. Marples was told in the Commons this week, and the M.P. who raised the matter—Mr. Robin Turon (Tory, Thirsk and Malton)—asked him to introduce regulations to make the fitting of these indicators compulsory.
Mr. Marples replied that during 1961 the number of heavy goods vehicles involved in serious accidents while towing was 130, but information on how many of the trailers lacked direction indicators was not available. He noted that the Construction and Use Regulations of 1963 contained new provisions about direction indicators fitted to vehicles registered after August, 1965, which included a requirement that any large trailer towed by a motor vehicle fitted in this way should itself be fitted with direction indicators. The Minister said he wished to have some experience of the working of the new requirements before making it compulsory for motor vehicles to be fitted with direction indicators.
When the subject of flashing headlamps was raised, Mr. Marples said he was well aware of these signals, and when diesels were being checked for the emission of smoke, one got a lot in the first hour and after that very few drivers were caught with smoking vehicles.
Highland Transport Board 'THE membership of the Highland TransportioBoard will be announced " very soon ", promised Mr. 1. A. Stodart, Scottish Under Secretary, last week. Scottish Members were anxious that no rail closures should be approved until the Board has given its views.
NO EARLY ANNOUNCEMENT
ORD CHESHAM, joint Parliamentary -1—■ Secretary to the Ministry of Transport, could give no hope of an early announcement about a plating scheme when he was questioned in the Lords this week. "All I can say is that we do regard the matter as of considerable urgency ", he commented.
He reminded the House that consideration was being given to the prescription of maximum weights for individual goods vehicles and said he knew the committee looking into the plating system had the question of a power/weight ratio very much in mind, He could not say when a report would be produced.
TESTING
JUR. MARPLES said in the Commons 'VI this week that he was now working out arrangements for all goods vehicles over 30 cwt. to be included in the annual testing scheme.