Road Transport Activities in
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PARLIAMENT
By Our Special Parliamentary Correspondent
Safety Glass for Trolley-buses.
14-R. MORRISON announced that 1.V1with regard to trolley-buses, he proposed to make requirements in the matter of fitting them with safety glass, similar to those applicable to motor vehicles. It is interesting to note that as regards tramcars, the Minister states he has in general no power to propose such requirements, and whilst he should favour the use of safety glass in the case, for example, of vestibule fronts when these were fitted, he doubts whether it will be necessary at present to lay down any absolute rule in the matter.
Automatic Signals in London.
THE Minister of Transport states that it is hoped shortly to begin installing automatic signalling apparatus for the regulation of street traffic in Oxford Street, London. Proposals are• also being considered for the installation of automatic signals at 11 junctions, these being as follop, :—
Trafalgar Square; Grosvenor Place and 'Hobart Place, Westminster ; Avenue Road and Albert Road, Hampstead; Sloane Street and Pont Street, Chelsea; Walworth Road and Deacon Street, Southwark; Balhara High Road and Trinity Road, Wandsworth; Cromwell Road and Gloucester Road, Kensington; Cromwell Road and, Earl's Court Road, Kensington ; Aere Lane and King's Avenue, Clapham; Green Lanes and North Circular Road, Southgate; Westbouri3e Terrace, Paddington. It is stated that at each point there will be lights visible in three directions. Only British concerns will be invited td supply the apparatus.
Stop Signals for Trams.
IT was suggested by Mr. Mills that the Minister of Transport should consider the inclusion of a rule-in the proposed Highway Code that all tramcars travelling upon a public highway should display a stop sine similar to those in use on the buses of the London General Omnibus Co., Ltd., together with some automatic sound warning to overtaking vehicles.
• Mr. Morrison said he did not think he could .appropriately include in the Highway Code any rule which would purport to affect the construction or equipment of vehicles. He believed that Mr. Mills was mistaken in -his statement with regard to the equipment of the buses to which reference was made.
Illegible Taximeter Dials.
THE Home Secretary's attention was Called to tho factthat a number of taximeters with black dials had been passed by the London authorities as suitable for cabs, and, he Was -asked why the use of such meters had been. permitted, seein., that he gave an undertaking that the licensing authorities would refuse to pass taximeters which were not completely legible.
Mr. Clyne.s said he was-informed by the commissioners that about one-third of the taximeters in use on licensed
taxicabs showed white figures on a black dial, the remainder having black figures on a white dial. As regards legibility, there was not, in the commissioners' opinions, anything to choose between the two types, and if properly illuminated both were regarded as acceptable.
Traffic Control by Semaphore Arms.
ASUGGESTION was made that the Continental system of signalling by an electrically illuminated and mechanically or electrically operated semaphore arm should be embodied in the Highway Code, in order to avoid the use of a multiplicity of direction indicators.
Mr. Morrison said he was aware that the type of direction indicator was extensively used, but he did not think that the adoption of a particular type of mechanical or electrical signal could properly be recommended in the Highway Code.
Passing Stationary Trams.
ANOTHER suggestion by Mr. Mills was that the Minister should consider including in. the regulations under the Road Traffic Act the prohibition of vehicles overtaking a tranaear when it was at a Standstill, provided that such tramcars were equipped with adequate signals for warning rersona of the stop. Mr. Morrison said the point raised had been fully discussed in con nection with the subjects proposed to be covered by the Highway Code, and he had reached the conclusion that it was not desirable to include a requirement on the lines suggested.
By-passing a Level Crossing.
WITH regard to the cause of the delay in proceeding with the scheme for the erection of a bridge over the railway at Hoghton, near 'Preston, and the construction of a new by-pass road in lieu of the existing level crossing, the Minister of Transport understands that the nec-easary negotiations between Lanes Cdunty Council and the London, Midland and Scottish Railway Co. are not sufficiently advanced to enable a scheme to be prepared.