Road Vehicles (Segregation)

Oral Answers to Questions — Roads – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 8 April 1964.

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Photo of Mr Simon Digby Mr Simon Digby , West Dorset 12:00, 8 April 1964

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will conduct an experiment into the segregation of similar types of road vehicles on a given stretch of road by excluding other types.

Photo of Mr Ernest Marples Mr Ernest Marples , Wallasey

This idea is attractive, but putting it into practice poses formidable questions of safety and other traffic problems. I am exploring the possibility in London of segregation to give priority to buses in addition to the priority already given by exemption from some right turn bans.

Photo of Mr Simon Digby Mr Simon Digby , West Dorset

Is it not a fact that one of the reasons for the congestion is the mixing of vehicles of different speeds on our roads? Since my right hon. Friend will not enforce a minimum speed limit, does not this seem to be a way of tackling this problem, as has been done successfully in countries like Sweden?

Photo of Mr Ernest Marples Mr Ernest Marples , Wallasey

Separate carriageways for different classes of vehicles which would provide for overtaking would involve extremely wide and expensive roads. While, in theory, this proposition sounds attractive, when we get down to the details of the matter it becomes very formidable indeed.