Road Transport Activities
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In Parliament
By Our Special Parliamentary Correspondent
FURTHER GOVERNMENT LEGISLATION.
'cy/ HEN the House of Commons re
VV assembled on Monday, Mr. Anstruther-Gray and Mr. Graham White interrogated the Government upon its intentions regarding the reduction of the perils of the roads, Mr. Stanley made the following statement:—
" The Government is deeply concerned at the grave position shown by the recently published returns of road accidents during 1933, and has decided to introduce legislation to deal with the subject at an early date. Apart horn any legislation proposed, I have considered further steps which can be taken by regulation or by other legislative action.
" I also desire to bring home to the public during the next few months the nature of the loss caused by road accidents and the extent to which they can be prevented by the exercise of seasonable care and consideration for others on the part uf all users of the highway. I shall in due course appeal to the Press, the B.B.C., and the film industry for their co-operation and assistance.
" I have also Made a contribution from the Road Fund towards the cost of a special campaign for the promotion of road safety, which the National Safety-First Association has projected for the spring and summer of the present year and which, in the main, will be directed towards a development and extension of its local activities in the more important centres of population throughout the country. "I look with confidence to the cooperation and assistance of local authorities and other public bodies, as well as the motoring organizations and associations of motor manufacturers in this concerted effort to reduce the perils at present attending the use of the public roads."
AMENDMENTS TO 1930 ACT.
I T is understood that some amend meats to the Road Traffic Act are in contemplation to correct certain defects, but it is not the intention to reimpose a speed limit for private carsit may be found that one of the proposals will be a more extensive application of the penalty of suspension of licences for motoring offences, and the Home Secretary is in consultation with magistrates upon this matter. Under the existing law it is possible to authorize local speed limits, but the procedure by inquiry, etc., needs simplifying, and possibly provision will be made accordingly in the Government's Bill.
CROSSING-PLACES FOR PEDESTRIANS.
ANOTILER suggestion is that pedestrians may be required to cross busy streets at certain safety zones, with liability to prosecution and fine for ignoring these points. It is evident that the Minister of Transport relies greatly upon creating by propaganda and other means a more acute sense of responsibility on the part of all road users-ewhether drivers cf vehicles or pedestrians.
OPPOSITION TO LONDON TROLLEYBUS SCHEME.
SOME 75 petitions against the London .....)Passenger Transport Board Bill have been lodged by local authorities and other bodies in the London area. Much of the opposition is directed to the question whether the Minister of Transport should be given power to override the objections of local authorities to trolleybus routes in their districts. The A.A. and R.A.C. object to obstruction likely to be caused by trolley-buses and by installing and maintaining cable systems, etc., and submit that motorbuses should be employed instead of trolleybuses. Further details will be given in our issue for next week.
A MANCHESTER RAILWAY BRIDGE.
'KA R. CHORLTON having asked the 1V1 Minister of Transport if he would release the grant previously allocated, and then held up, for the widening of the railway bridge over Queen's Road, Miles Platting, Manchester, in order that this narrow and dangerous part may be removed, Mr. Stanley said that no definite proposals had been submitted by Manchester Corporation for the widening of this bridge and no grant had at any time been allocated to the purpose. The roadway on each side had, however, been widened, and if the corporation submitted a scheme for widening the bridge, he was prepared to give it consideration, having regard to the funds available for grants to schemes of-this character.