asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what investigations are being undertaken by his Department and by the Road Research Laboratory in regard to the problem of accidents involving large numbers of vehicles on motorways in fog.

My Department is analysing fog accidents so that specific counter-measures can be considered on specially vulnerable lengths of motorway. The effect of lighting on M62 is also being studied for the longer term, the Road Research Laboratory is making good progress with its work on audible radio warnings to drivers, with "head-up" speedometer displays and with station-keeping indicators to prevent close following.