41.
asked the Minister of Transport on what grounds he has now decided that a pedestrian has the right to cross the road at a controlled crossing when the lights are green to the motorist, which is contrary to his previous decision.
I am sorry if there appears to have been any inconsistency in my statements on this matter, but it is by no means a simple one. The existing regulations give priority to the pedestrian who has started to cross on a controlled crossing before traffic has been permitted by a signal to proceed over the crossing. This would be straightforward if it was not necessary to take into account turning traffic and traffic at complex junctions. I had hoped by revising the existing regulations to define precisely the respective rights and obligations of pedestrians and motorists at controlled crossings in all circumstances in clear and simple language, but this has not proved practicable. For this reason, as I explained to my hon. Friend the Member for Leicester. North-West (Mr. Janner), on 27th March, I may have to deal with the problem by giving guidance on the subject in the Highway Code.
Will the Minister do his best to expedite these regulations, because the public do not know where they stand? Is he aware that on 15th November, 1948, in reply to Vice-Admiral Taylor, he said:
It now appears that only the other day the Minister said exactly the opposite. Could he, therefore, issue the regulations as soon as possible?"No, Sir, the pedestrian has not that right when the lights are against him."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 15th November, 1948; Vol. 458, c. 3.]
I have already explained that so far my legal advisers and the police cannot agree on simple and clear language that would make the position plain to the public. That is why it is probable that this will have to be dealt with in the Highway Code.
Does that imply that when it is dealt with in the Highway Code the language will be neither sensible, simple, nor clear?
It is quite possible to give general guidance without a legal definition. After all, the Highway Code is taken into consideration by the courts, and yet they are not bound by definite legal language.
When the Minister reviews the present arrangements about pedestrian crossings where there are lights, will he also try to make clear what is the position where there are pedestrian crossing and no lights, as there is still a great deal of confusion?
In that case the position is plain: the pedestrian has the right.