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Road Transport Activities
Page 89
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IN PARLIAMENT
By Our Special Parliamentary Correspondent
PRIORITY LISTS OF WEAK BRIDGES.
AN inquiry was made by Capt. Strickland as to the number of priority lists showing the order of recommending the reconstruction or strengthening of the 2,000 bridges on Class 1 and Class 2 roads (where 'notices might be placed prohibiting the use of the bridge, when Section 30 of the Road and Rail Traffic Act was brought into operation) as the result. of the county conferences now being
held on the subject. He also asked whether the Minister was satisfied with the progress which was being made by the bridge authorities in calculating the weight which might be allowed with safety on those bridges where it was proposed to place notices.
Mr. Stanley said the number of bridges on Class 1 and Class 2 roads in the lists referred to was 1,180. The 'remainder were on unclassified roads. Nineteen priority lists had been received as the result of the county Coriferences so far held, and these covered 160 bridges. Be had no reason tO think that any unnecessary delay was taking pike in calculating the weight which individual bridges would bear.
MUDGUARDS ON MOTORS.
MR. SUMMERSBY called attention to the fact that most of the mud splashed on to motorcars came from the preceding car, and thatat any distance up to 30 yards the following car received spume or mud on its windscreen from the wheels of the car it was following. He asked whether the Minister would cause observation and experiments to be made with a view to encouraging or legislating that the rear wing of cars should reach to within 3 ins, of the road instead of approximately 18 ins, as at present, and thus effect a much better visibility for drivers.
Mr. Stanley said he was bringing the point raised by Mr. Summersby to the notice of manufacturers of motor vehicles. Until he had their observations he could not well consider the question of more stringent regulations with regard to mudguards.
ENFIELD SUBWAY.
I T was pointed out by Lieut.-Col.
Applin that an order had recently been made authorizing the construction by the London Passenger Transport Board of a subway for foot-passengers under Cockfosters Road, Enfield, and that it was proposed that the use of the subway should be limited to the passengers on the Board's railway and buses. He asked for an assurance that, in the interests of public safety on the highway, the subway would be made available for general pedestrian traffic.
Mr. Stanley said the Board was under no statutory obligation to allow the subway which it proposed to construct to be used by general pedestrian traffic. He would, however, bring the suggestion to -the Board's notice.
YIELD OF OIL DUTIES.
THE Financial Secretary to the Treasury states that the amount of revenue ccillected or• due to the Treasury from April 25, 1933, to January 31, 1934, from the duty on heavy hydrocarbon oils was approximately £2,282,000.
SPEED LIMIT IN ROYAL PARKS.
ATTENTION having been called to vehicles proceeding at 30 m.p.h. to 40 m.p.h. in the Royal Parks, Mr. Ormsby-Gore, First Commissioner of Works, said he was aware that the speed limit was not universally observed, but the efforts which the police were making to secure the enforcement of the regulations were indicated by the fact that 2,400 convictions under the speed-limit regulations were secured in the central parks during 1933, and that there were cautions to the number of 1,600.
MOBILE POLICE AND OFFENCES.
THE following statement of cases of careless or dangerous driving during the 12 months ended January 31, 1934, detected by Metropolitan Police traffic patrols, which were followed by prosecution, cautions or verbal warning is published by the Home Office :—
1933.
February 865 March — ... 1,453
tiyparil ... 1,363
'" 1,560
OIL FUEL FOR NAVY AND AIR FORCE.
CAPT. WALLACE, on behalf of the Admiralty, stated that the quantity of oil produced from coal contracted for by the Admiralty for delivery in
1933 was 3,025 tons. The amount actually received during that year was about 2,000 tons, and of this quantity only 330 tons had been used for trial purposes in the fleet, compared with trifling amounts in previous years. The question of a formal contract of supplies during 1934 was under consideration.
Sir Philip Sassoon informed the House that the proportion of Russian oil in the lubricating oil for aero engines used last year might be taken as about 50 per cent. He was asked if all this oil could not be obtained from sources within the British Empire, but Sir P. Sassoon replied " No ; none of it can."
SPEED-LIMIT PROSECUTIONS.
THE Minister of Transport states that the latest figures available which are for the year 1932, show that there were 3,399 prosecutions for exceeding the speed limit in respect of passenger-carrying vehicles, subject to a speed limit of 30 m.p.h. and 26,145 in respect of goods vehicles. He regrets that it is not possible to sub-divide these figures between heavy and light vehicles.
USE OF GRASS VERGES.
THE Manchester Corporation (General Powers) Bill was mentioned by Col. Moore in respect of the proposals to lay out new roads with wide grass verges and to take powers to prevent the use of such margins by pedestrians and riders, if the margins were held to be ornamental. He asked whether the Minister of Transport was satisfied that adequate provision was or would be made for the safety and accommodation of pedestrians and riders on additional margins, and if not, whether he would withhold any grant in aid of these new roads until he was satisfied. on this point.
Capt. A. Hudson, Lord of the Treasury, who replied, said that the proposals for dealing with grass margins contained in the Bill would be allowed only if Parliament thought fit, and the Bill would come before a Select Committee on March 13. The question of a grant did not at present arise. He afterwards added that he had information that the Manchester Corporation was prepared to amend the Clause.