London Transport's Accident Experience C ONSIDERATIONS underlying the investigation of accident
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claims are explained at length by Mr. S. A. Webb. He mentions that the vehicles of London Transport, which he represents, are not insured, so that a separate department is required to investigate claims. He adds that it is an unfortunate fact that the public has become "claims-conscious." The duty of the public service vehicle operator, he points out, is to carry passengers in safety, so far as reasonable care and skill can ensure it. A large proportion of the public in still under the erroneous impression that an operator is bound to pay compensation for any kind of accident. The position is, however, that, if an accident has occurred even through the negligence of a member of
the staff of a public service vehicle, the owner is not necessarily liable to pay compensation.
Figures quoted by Mr. Webb show the following subdivision of claims received by the Board during the 12 months ended June 30, 1936, during which period the average number of vehicles in daily service was 7.385:— Central buses, 54 percent.; trams, 33.5 per cent.; coaches, 6 per cent.; country buses, 3.5 per cent.; trolleybuses, 3 per cent.
In the year ended June 30, 1937, when the average number of vehicles in daily service was 7,215, claims were as follow :—Central buses, 51 per cent.; trams, 33 per cent.; coaches, 4.5 per cent.; country buses, 3.5 per cent. ; trolleybuses, 8 per cent. The figures given in connection with trolleybuses are hardly comparable, as these vehicles have steadily been replacing trams during the periods in question. The Board's experience with regard to claims paid during the eight weeks ended June 12, 1937, in respect of accidents involving the central buses, is of interest. Of the total amoucht paid, 24.63 per cent. was in respect of accidents in which passengers alone were involved. Mishaps to passengers boarding and alighting accounted for 16.35 per cent., accidents to passengers in buses, 7.92 per cent., and damage to passengers' property, 0.36 per cent. . So far as collisions are concerned, 6.36 per cent, of the total amount paid went to cyclists, 26.09 per cent, to pedestrians; 39.96 per cent. was paid as a result of collisions with vehicles and 2,8 per cent. following collisions with fixed objects. 0