rhe Week in Parliament•
Page 33
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"Heavy" Overtakers Attacked
FROM OUR PARLIAMENTARY CORRESPONDENT
FIRIVERS of heavy commercial vehicles who tried to pass other wavy vehicles on M1 at a Speed only or 3 !m.p.h. faster were criticized in the -2.oinmons by Mr. John Hay, Parliamenary Secretary to the Ministry of Trans3ort. This meant that the lanes of the notorway were blocked over a considertble distance, he said, and if there were 'ast cars coming up behind there was the -isk of a serious accident.
Mr. Hay, who was speaking in a short debate on the need for safety measures on Ml, said that a large number of heavy commercial vehicles were not using the motorways, and this one in particular. Many of them found that to pass they might have to go into the fast lane. If the outside lane was clear there was no reason whatever why any vehicle which wished to overtake and was capable of doing so, should not use it.
But there was a proviso that the driver should be satisfied before he started the manceuvre that he could get by reasonably quickly. The Ministry was watching this particular matter very closely indeed, went on Mr. Hay, pointing out that it was necessary for the drivers of the lorries to watch it and adjust their driving accordingly.
Mi. Hay told Mr, Philip Hocking (Cons., Coventry South), who had opened the debate, that it was hoped to start experimenting with illuminated, remotely controlled warning signs next winter. If they were successful there would be signs about every two miles down the motorway, with a flashing amber light adjacent to each, drawing attention to the fact that some sort of hazard such as fog, ice, mist or an accident, lay ahead on the motorway.
The Ministry was also considering whether some special treatment could be introduced to avoid the shadow effect in the vicinity of bridges, and whether further experiments might be carried out to avoid dazzle at certain places, perhaps by the planting of shrubs. But the Minister had been advised that there was insufficient justification for a general use of anti-dazzle screens on MI, said Mr, Hay