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Road Transport Matters in Parliament.

14th July 1925, Page 2
14th July 1925
Page 2
Page 3
Page 2, 14th July 1925 — Road Transport Matters in Parliament.
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

ONE of the matters which will certainly be dealt with in the forthcoming legislation of the Government is the licensing of passenger-carrying vehicles. More severe standards of fitness and design to ensure safety on gradients may be imposed and proof of compliance required before the licensing authority. A hint has also been given thz...t the question of requiring assurance of the financial ability of a firm running passenger vehicles to meet claims for accidents or damages is beink considered.

Compulsory Insurance.

Earl Russell intends to call the attention of the ROT1 of Lords to the desirability of compulsory insurance of motor vehicles against third-party risks and to present a Bill with that object. He has given notice for July 15th.

Lord Montagu's Dicta.

In the course of a discussion in the House of Lords on the let inst. upon London traffic and street aceitlents a good deal of steam was blown off, BOTIM of their lordstips being disposed to concentrate attack upon high speed as the only begetter of road perils. Lord Montage of Beaulieu, however, could be depended upon to take a wider view, and the following are some of his dicta :—"You cannot cure congestion of London traffic by Acts of Parliament or regulations. In London we are trying to put a quart into a pint pot. We must build viaducts for traffic or create underground roads. It is impossible to solve the problem by widening existing thoroughfares, as the cost would be prohibitive. Two common causes of obstruction are non-observance of the rule of the road and the slow movement of horse vehicles. We must have Proper parking spaces. It is not only speed that causes accidents ; the greater number of accidents are caused by lorries and trade -vans -which run at comparatively slow speed. We shall have to build escalators to take people from one side of the street to the other. I can testify to the ex

treme carelessness of the average pedestrian. We are all against the reckless driver and want him suppressed. Considering the millions of motor vehicles and the millions who use the streets the number of accidents is not really as great as the figures would suggest.

Wet Tar.

The annually reeerring grievance relating to careless tarring of roads and damage to carriage work has had expression in the Commons, Colonel Ashley's reply was noncommittal. Generally speaking, he said, tar dressing was 1318 carried out with due regard to the convenience of read users, but if he were supplied with specific instances to the contrary he would, have them investigated and representations made to authorities that were at fault. One might suggest that officials of the Ministry themselves should travel overthe roads. They would find an abundance of wet tar, whereas investigation after complaint would disclose only the tar that had 'not been removed by passing traffic.

Road Grants.

Local authorities are anxious to know whether the arrangements under unemployment schemes involving work on second-class roads may be assisted by the Unemployment Grants Committee to the same •extent as schemes relating to other classes of work. From an announcement by the Minister of Transport it appears that schemes coming within the category cif normal maintenance and improvement, towards which " classification" grants are made from the Road Fund, cannot obtain further assistance from., the Unemployment Grants Committee. It is. interesting to hear, however, that the possibility of increasing the assistance given from the Road Fund for unclassified roads is at present under consideration.

Col. Ashley has reiterated his policy_ regarding the respective claims of new roads and old roads upon, the attention of his Department. His policy is togive precedence to the needs of existing important highways, but, at the same time, to construct new roads where that is the only method of meeting the needs of modern traffic.

Signposts in Provincial Towns., Whilst considerable progress has been made in the erecttion of signposts on if:Rpm-tent routes through provincial towns, the Minister of Transport has stated his intention to pursue the policy of encouraging local authorities to improve and extend the signpostingin their respective areas. It has lonebeen felt that more adequate directions should be available for those who have to thread their way through a maze of streets in a strange town before striking the open highway.

Consumption of Motor Spirit..

It would be difficult to arrive at a precise estimate of the yield of a tax on motor spirit, for the reason that the Government have in their possession no exact information as to the actual consumption of motor spirit in this country. The Minister of Transport can only quote the Board of Trade returns as to importsand re-exports which take no account of the production of home refineries. Even-so, the figures.given are enormous. In the calendar year 1924 the imports were 422,310,541 gallons and re-exports 43,104,491 gallons. For the same period £15,388,476 was received from motor taxation, but this is subject to certain prior statutory charges, so that the whole amount does not go towards grants.

Rear Lights on Bicycles.

It is evidently the desire of those interested in cyclists' organizations that the Home Secretary should receive a deputation on the subject of rear lamps on pedal cycles. The question has been revived as the result of the recommendation in the traffic report of the police authorities and road users that rear lights should be compulsory. The Home Secretary, who has already indicated an attitude not altogether fav.ourable to the present system, is doubtful as to the usefulness of the proposed deputation, but he has stated that if any new arguments are put forward he will consider the matter.

Vehicle User's Handbook.

Sir Harry Brittain has suggested that a-leaflet containing the principal rules and regulations, details of signalling and general etiquette of the road should be printed and read by each applicant for a driving licence before the licence is handed to him. Whilst Col. Ashley is in sympathy with the object aimed at regarding signalling and etiquette of the road he has stated that he would prefer the methods recommended by the Departmental_ Committee on Taxation and Regulation of Road Vehicles. As regards furnishing information to Motor drivers on the principal rules and regulations, this course might be open to objection, because if the information were complete it would be voluminous and if incomplete it might be misleading.

Great West Road.

The Road Fund has contributed 75 per cent., or £750,000, of the cost of constructing 5* miles of the Great West Road and 50 per cent., or 170,000, of the cost of three miles of extension from the Bath Road to Staines Road.


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