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Road Transport Topics
Page 78
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In Parliament
By Our Special Parliamentary Correspondent
SAFETY GUARDS FOR ALL COMMERCIAL VEHICLES?
THE Minister of Transport has intimated that he intends to consult manufacturers and representative bodies on the question of the compulsory equipment of motor vehicles with guards. Mr. West pointed out that many serious accidents had been avoided by the provision of side guards-on London Passenger Transport Board buses and Green Line coaches. and suggested that similar guards on commercial vehicles would be equally beneficial. The Minister said he intended to take whatever action he was enabled to take.
APPOINTMENTS OF EXAMINERS COMPLETED.
tr is stated that all appointments of lexaminers required to meet present needs have been made or are in hand, and the persons selected have been informed. Unsuccessful applicants have been advised, either by means of public notices in the Press, in the case of persons who were not invited to attend before a Selection Board, or individually in the case of persons who attended before a Board.
UNIFORMITY IN SPEED-LIMIT INDICATIONS—AND IN SPEED.
T"primary indication that a road is subject to the 30 m.p.h. speed limit, the Minister of Transport states, is the existence of a system of street lighting. In every case the commencement of the limit is marked by distinctive signs, whilst on an illuminated road not subject to the limit a sign is displayed on the lamp-posts.
Subject to local circumstances and to the views of local authorities, who are primarily responsible, the Minister has endeavoured to ensure that the principle, applying in the London Traffic Area, of derestricting wide arterial roads should apply throughout the country.
Sir Gifford Fox, having alleged that the speed-limit signs at Oxford exist beyond the limits provided for under the new arrangements, and that they c24 do not conform to the standard type, Mr. Hore-Belisha said he was in communication with Oxford City Council on this matter.
He added that observation indicated that traffic generally was moving at a more uniform rate and that its average speed was little, if any, lower than before the enforcement of the 30 m.p.h. speed limit.
INCONVENIENCE THROUGH DRIVING-TEST 'DELAYS.
AIVIONG the many questions ad4-1.dressed to the Minister of Transport on the subject of the driving tests, the following has a direct interest for many drivers. Colonel Sandeman Alien instanced the case of a motorist, first licensed in May, 1934, who applied for a renewal of his licence hut was unable to obtain an appointment with the appropriate examiner, and asked whether his licence would be renewed and a test subsequently arranged, or whether the renewal would be held up pending the test, to the detriment of his business or professional activities.
Mr. Hore-Belisha replied to the effect that when sub=section (1) of Section 6 of the Road Traffic Act, 1934, was brought into full operation, the driver referred to would not be able to renew his licence until he had passed the test. He could, however, apply now, and there was, therefore, no reason why he should experience delay in obtaining a further licence.
GLASGOW BILL DEFEATED.
rIN Tuesday night, the House of 1...../Commons rejected by 190 votes to 52, Glasgow Corporation's Bill, which contained a clause seeking power to manufacture bus bodies. The arguments against the Bill were Centred partly on the effects on home and overseas trade of the diminution of the output of commercial -bodybuilders.
GLASGOW'S BIG PETROL CONTRACT.
THE placing by Glasgow Corporation of a contract for the supply of 3,000,000 gallons of petrol with Russian Oil Products, Ltd., was discussed in detail in the House of Commons.
The Secretary of State for Scotland said it was impossible for him to intervene in this matter. He stated the facts of the negotiations between the Corporation and the nine tenderers which comprised eight companies belonging to the National Combine, and the R.O.P. company. He thought it was to be regretted that, before the whole contract was placed with the foreign concern, further efforts were not made by both parties to reach an agreement which would have enabled over nine-tenths of the contract to be supplied by the National companies. So far as he could gather the negotiations between the Combine and the Corporation broke down on a small matter of 140,000 gallons.
On the general question, Parliament had delegated certain poivers to local authorities, and it was a principle, inherent in popularly elected representative bodies, that they should be responsible to those who elected them. The circumstances of the present case would not, he thought, justify any diminution of the powers possessed by local authorities in these matters, and he trusted that the public interest, which had been taken in the case, would be useful in helping to prevent a similar occurrence in futuie. He had made investigations and he thought further inquiry unnecessary.
KNOCK-FOR-KNOCK SYSTEM DANGEROUS?
REMER asked the Minister of IVITransport if his attention had been called to the road accidents caused by the knock-for-knock system adopted by insurance companies ; and if he would introduce legislation to ensure that, in the case of every accident, an inquiry should be held to decide who was to blame, that only the insurance record of the guilty party should be debited with the damages incurred and that the individual should, in such cases. be made to pay out of his own pocket.
Mr. Hore-Belisha replied that he would have to be convinced, before introducing such legislation, that the knock-fox-knock system did in fact diminish the motorist's incentive to be careful.