Road Transport Topics
Page 44
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In Parliament
By Our Special Parliamentary Correspondent
• FUEL IN WAR TIME.
TT was announced in the House of 1 Commons on Tuesday, by Mr. Lloyd, that a rationing scheme for fuel for commercial vehicles was to he operated. in time of emergency, through an organization set up hy•the Ministry of Transport. it could be brought into service immediately.
Arrangements were also completed for the economic distribution of fuel supplies by road and sail tankers. The reserves of fuel in the country had been greatly increased.
On the subject of " substitute fuels," Mr. Lloyd was not very forthcoming. He stated that good progress was being made in investigating the matter, but that it was not in the public interest to give details. A number of different channeswas being explored, including the question of producer-gas.
COST OF TRAFFIC LIGHT SIGNALS,
TI1E cost of adding pedestrian lights to an existing traffic light signal was asked by Captain Sir W. Brass. Captain Wallace gave the following reply:—
The cost of an additional three-light signal of a normal pattern would be about £8 10s., but to this must be added the cost of fitting it to the signal head and of making the necessary alterations to the cables, which might be considerable.
At an ordinary cross-roads, where no special method of control was required, the capital cost of a complete vehicleactuated installation , was usually between £650 and £850. Maintenance was about £70 to £85 a year. The Minister added that he proposed to call the attention of highway authorities to the desirability of providing additional three-light signal faces, of the normal pattern, on traffic lights wherever these were practicable and warranted.
COTTON AN UNSAFE LOAD?
REFERRING to a recent accident when a motor coach had been in collision with a lorry carrying a load of cotton, and fire had resulted, Mr. Sorensen suggested that the nature of the load was a contributory cause. He also asked why the Minister had decided not to bold an inquiry and whether it was in the public interest that cotton should be transported by road rather than by rail.
Giving his opinion on the subject, the Minister said he thought that no useful purpose would be served by holding a public inquiry. Ile considered that it would be improper for him to make any statement as to the causes of the accident, and added that it would be impracticable to prohibit carrying cotton by road.
EXCUSE FOR STRAIGHT-ROAD "TRAPS."
WAS an officer at Scotland Yard or VV a local officer, asked Captain Sir William Brass, responsible for the selection of roads in the Metropolitan area over which to operate static " traps " to time drivers to exceed 30 m.p.h.. and why were only straight wide roads selected for this purpose?
Mr. Peake replied that the situation of these controls was determined by the Traffic Department at New Scotland Yard after consideration of the recommendations of local officers. Strai.ht wide roads were not the on!), roads selected for this purpose, but the two ends of the control needed to he in view of each other.
DANGEROUS TAIL LAMPS.
OWING to their small size and low position, tail lamps on lorries and vans, said Major Sir Jocelyn Lucas, were almost invisible. He asked if the Minister would consider issuing regulations to increase the size of such lights, to ensure that they were placed in a clearly visible position and 4 insist on the use of reflectors on a white background.
Captain Wallace said the whole question of the lighting of vehicles was receiving further examination, in view of the recommendations made by the Lords Accident Committee. The suggestions would be considered in this connection.
TROLLEYBUS ACCIDENTS DIMINISHING.
THE London Passenger Transport Board supplied the Minister with accident figures relating to its vehicles. The average numbers of persons killed per million passenger vehicle miles run were: Trams, 0..26; trolleybuses, 0.68; central-area buses, 0.29; coaches, 0.39; country buses, 0.24. The relatively high figure for trolleybuses was due to their recent introduction, and that it was apparent that the rate was already diminishing.
BELATED A, B AND C-LICENCE STATISTICS.
ATTENTION was called by Captain Strickland to the fact that the most recent return, showing the relative numbers of commercial vehicles of the A, B and C licence classes, was dated June :30, 1938. He asked whether the Department had knowledge of the numbers of such vehicles at a date later than 13 months ago.
A return was compiled annually, came the answer, and that for 1939 was now being prepared. It should be available at the end of September.