Road Transport Topics
Page 44
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
In Parliament
NUMBERS OF VEHICLES , OPERATED BY L.P.T.B.
FIGURES were supplied by the Minister of Transport showing the numbers of tramcars and buses (exclusive of coaches) in employment on regular services, in June, 1933, by operators whose services have since been transferred to the London Passenger Trans-port Beard, and the n .mbers at present operated on regular services by the Board. It will be remembered that Beard commenced to operate on July 1, 1933. The following are the particulars, which were asked for by Mr. M'En tee
numbers of buses operated on Monday to Friday, Saturday and Sunday, in June, 1933, v ere 5,067, 6,038 and 4,463, respectively, whilst the corresponding figures for the present time were 4,970, 4,977 and 3,633. With regard to tramcars, there were in operation in June, "133, 2,189, 2,148 and 1,222, whilst at the present time there were 2,171, 2,125 and 1,196 in service.
The Minister pointed out that, in comparing these f gures, and particularly those referring to Sundays, it • should be remembered that they referred to summer and winter services respectively.
THE PEDESTRIAN-CROSSING POSITION IMPROVING.
REGARDING the policy to be pursued in relation to pedestrian crossings, Mr. Hore-Belisha stated that he was satisfied that they make for the safety and convenience of road users, and that with the co-operation of the public they could be made of increasing value. He had appointed March 15 as the date by which schemes of crossing-places, or statements as to why they were not necessary, were to be
u34
submitted by local authorities. He had also made regulations extending to the whole country the provisions hitherto operative in London.
Mr. H. G. Williams asked the Minister to consider making pedestrians give a definite indication before crossing, and Mr. Holford Knight suggested that the London public should be given further information as to their rights on the crossings.
Mr. Hore-Belisha said there were certain dangers surrounding the first proposal. With regard to the second he hoped the situation would progressively improve.
In reply to further suggestions that it should be made an offence for pedestrians to disobey traffic lights, and that the rights of pedestrians at uncontrolled crossings should be stated, the Minister said, with regard to the first, that any regulations he might make depended on the powers with which Parliament had invested him. He would see how far they went in the direction suggested. As to the second question, the regulations, he thought, answered it.
NEED FOR FURTHER CIVIL AIR COMMUNICATIONS.
MOTICE has been given of motions / 'sin Committee of Supply calling attention to the importance of the further development and acceleration of the civil air communications of the Empire, and to the need for a national board to organize internal airways.
URGENT NEED FOR CHECKING RIBBON DEVELOPMENT.
ONE of the matters brought to the attention of the Prime Minister, on the resumption of Parliament last Monday, was the " increasing menace of ribbon development." Mr. Ramsay MacDonald stated that immediate legislation was proposed to deal with the question. Sir y. Davison observed that all parties were agreed that legislation was urgently needed at the earliest possible moment. The Minister of Transport, on being asked whether the prospect of legislation had intensified ribbon development, said he was not aware of any specific evidence to show that this was the case.
THE ELIMINATION OF LEVEL CROSSINGS.
UPON being asked whether a communication had been received from Epping Rural Council regarding the alarm felt at the prevalence of accidents at level crossings in its area, and whether action was being taken to secure efficient control at all level crossings, Mr. Hore-Belisha said he had received a communication on the matter. The inspecting officer whom he appointed to inquire into the circumstances of the accident at Wormley had now completed his inquiry and his report would shortly be available. He indicated that the Department was offering a grant of 75 per cent. to do away with level crossings.
EXPERIENCE OF DRIVING-TEST EXAMINERS.
REPLYING to Mr. Anstruther-Gray, who desired to know whether persons with fewer than seven years of driving experience had been appointed as driving-test examiners, Mr. HoreBelisha said that candidates were required to state the number of years for which they had driven, and that the extent of their experience would he taken into account by the Selection Boards, but that no qualifyinkminimum period had been prescribed.