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Dept for Transport

Answer

Mr. David Marshall: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will assess the merits of requiring car occupants to wear reflective jackets compliant to standard EN471 when leaving their vehicle at the roadside, except where the vehicle is parked; and if he will make a statement; [222261] (2) if he will take steps to require car occupants leaving their vehicle by the roadside, except when the vehicle is parked, to wear reflective jackets compliant to standard EN471; and if he will make a statement; [222262] (3) if he will make it a requirement that drivers carry at least one reflective jacket in their cars; and if he will make a statement. [222320] Mr. Jamieson: We do not make it a requirement for any road user to wear reflective clothing. However, we do advise vulnerable road users--pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and horseriders--to wear fluorescent clothing during the day and reflective clothing at night to improve their visibility to other road users. This advice is contained in the Highway Code. Drivers are generally less vulnerable. But the Code gives advice to them on where they should stand should their vehicle breakdown, with special advice for motorways. Our leaflet, "A Guide to Safer Motorway Driving", also contains the advice on what to do when vehicles break down on motorways. While there are tragic accidents when drivers leave their vehicles, these are rare. We believe that drivers and occupants are not at great risk when they follow this advice--for example, for motorways they are advised to wait on a nearby bank or verge well away from the traffic. We therefore do not believe that we should go further and require the wearing of special clothing.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

432 c531W; 222261;222262;222320

Session

2004-05

Subjects

Accidents Safety measures Roads

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk