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Road Transport Activities
Page 115
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iN PARLIAMENT Salter Report.
MR. MARRY suggested that before considering any action with regard to the Salter Report the Minister of Transport should consult the Report of the National Transportation Committee (United States of America) issued on February 15, 1938, which was appointed to deal with road and rail problems in the United States. Mr. Stanley said his attention had been drawn to the report and he would give it consideration. It would he realized, however, that the conditions of transport in the U.S.A. were in many ways not comparable with those in this country.
Mr. Clarry then asked whether, before implementing all the recommendations of the Salter Report, the Minister would set up a further committee to. consider what railway economies could be achieved by the abolition of parallel lines, regional censolidationa and the elimination of all railways where the transport services rendered could be provided more efficiently by the road operators. Mr. Stanley replied in the negative, adding that, apart from the fact that the course suggested would inevitably lead to considerable delay, he doubted whether for the present, at any rate, a further committee would be the best means of securing any additional .economies that were possible in the direction which Mi. (harry had In mind.
Traffic Noises.
TilE Home Secretary stated that during 1980 there were 23,468 convictions in England and Wales for silencer offences, but figures were not available for that year in respect of other noise offences. During 1931 there were 21,062 convictions in England and Wales for excessive noise offences of all kinds.
Headlights.
รง1 APT. CUNNINGHAM-REID asked
whether the Minister had reached any decision on the problem of overcoming dazzle in motorcar headlights and whether, in framing regulations, he would insist that anti-dazzle devices should be automatic and not driveroperated. Mr. Stanley replied that the Ministry of Transport recently circulated a revised draft of regulations on this subject and certain representations which had been received were now under consideration.
Examination of Drivers.
A NOTHER. suggestion by Sir WilliamBgass was that in the case of applicants for licences who had not previously held licences they should be required to pass a shortoral examination on the recognized Rules of the Road, including hand signals, so that prospective drivers might have a knowlodge of the highway code. Col. Head
lam pointed out that the whole question of tests was discussed at considerable length when the Road Traffic Act was before Parliament. Amending legislation would be required to carry out the suggestion and, while he was not at present satisfied that this was necessary, he would keep the matter in mind.
Sir William Brass referred to the danger of people with no idea of the rules of the road being granted licences without having read the rules. Col. Headlam said he understood the danger, but if the hon, member inquired into the causes of road accidents he would find that the majority was not due to beginners so much as to people who had been driving for some time.
Durham Bus Fares.
MR. LA_WSON called attention to the raising of fares on some of the routes in the Chester-le-Street, Birtley, Felton and Washington areas of Co. Durham, and asked whether they had been sanctioned by the Commissioner, and whether, as the increases were a hardship upon those living in an area se long afflicted with unemployment, the Minister would have inquiry made, with a view to restoring the previous fares. Mr. Stanley drew attention to the powers of the Traffic Commissioners.
Waterloo Bridge.
TTPON being asked whether the conIL) tracts for the reconstruction of Waterloo Bridge would be offered by public tender and whether they would be let subject to the approval of the Minister.of Transport, Mr. Stanley said it was a condition of all grants from the Road Fund that his approval of any arrangement as to tenders and of any contract for constructional works should be obtained, but the procedure to be followed in inviting and accepting tenders for the reconditioning of Waterloo Bridge had not yet been
settled. He further stated that he could not give an assurance that when this question was settled there would be open competition.
Selby Toll Bridge.
Air R. STANLEY informed the House .1.Y.I.that he had no official knowledge of any negotiations between the highway authorities concerned and the bridge owners for the purchase and freeing of the Selby Toll :Bridge, but he understood that a committee representing local interests was investigating the possibilities of the purchase without a grant from the Road Fund, for the highway authorities had been informed of his inability to offer financial assistance.
Expenditure on Roads.
MEM suggestion was made by Mr.
Hepworth in the House of Commons that, as money expended upon road maintenance and improvement was contributed largely by users and providers of read transport, the Minister of Transport should set up an advisory committee representative of such interests with a view to ensuring that no expenditure on roads should be incurred other than is regarded as justifiable for the economic operation of road transport.
Mr. Stanley said that the roads advisory committee established under -the provisions of the Ministry of Transport Act, 1919, comprised representatives of the highway authorities, of the users of horse and mechanical road traffic and of labour, and that matters connected with expenditure from the Road Fund were considered by the committee as occasion required.
White Lbws.
COL. HEADLAM, replying to a re...)quest that there should be an order making white traffic lines compulsory at all corners, said that their effectiveness depended to a certain extent upon a reasonable restraint in their use. He understood that the departmental committee on traffic signs would deal with the use of white lines in the report which was expected shortly. The Minister had no authority to make such an order as that which had been suggested.
Metal Studs on Roads.
ASUGGESTION was made by Sir William Brass that metal studs should be used for marking out pedestrians' paths across the London streets, as had been successfully adopted in Paris for many years, in substitution for the "Please cross here" boards,
which were of to pedestrians through lack of paint, and were invisible to drivers of cars with low roofs. Col. Headlam said the best means for indicating crossing places for pedestrians had been engaging the attention of the departmental committee on fraffic signs appointed by the late Minister of Transport. The present Minister was expecting to receive a report of this committee. Sir William Brass suggested the making of an experiment on a large scale in London before then. Col. Headlam said he could not actually promise to do that, but he was in sympathy with the suggestion which Sir William Brass had made.
axicab Fares.
TE Home Secretary stated that the conference of all parties concerned in the proposals for an increase in taxicab fares having been held, the whole question was now under his consideration in the light of the various representations.