ROAD TRANSPORT MATTERS IN PARLIAMENT.
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A Brief Survey of the Session. The Use of Trailers in Crowded Streets. Dangerous Roads and Unsatisfactory Surfaces. Headlight Control.
By Our Special Parliamentary Correspondent.
p1T,TAMENT was . prorogued on Wednesday last until February 8th. The latter portion of the seesion has not been productive of legislation closely affecting motor trade or road transport interests, although the Minister of Transport has continued to be bombarded with suggestions, some wise and some foolish, as to how he should frame his long-promised and oft-deferred Road Vehicles Bill. True, the earlier part of the session was full of interest. The Budget, with its scale of increased duties and the raid on the Road Fund, was quite enough to contemplate on one side of the account. Bills that have been passed into law this session, and which concern the motor and allied trades, in some cases perhaps remotely, are the Weights and Measures Amendment Act, which provides for the supervision of petrol pumps ; the Petroleum Act, relating to carriage and storage of petroleum spirit; the Electricity (Supply) Act; the Public Health (Smoke Abatement) Act, and the Merchandise Marks (Imported Goods) Act. The Commons rejected the Omnibuses Bill, which sought to empower local authorities to run omnibuses in outside areas. The Moveable Dwellings Bill and the Bill to make rear reflectors on bicycles compulsory made no progress through time limitntione upon private members' efforts to legislate, whilst Earl Russell's Bill to make insurance against third-party risks compulsory was withdrawn on the assurance that a tentative scheme applying to public-service vehicles would be proposed in the Road Vehicles Bill. Next session will no doubt be made memorable by the Public debut of this legislative "Mrs. EIarris," about which there has been so much talk and. so little information.
An Attack on the Trailer.
lir A.TOR GLYN interrogated the Minister of Trans tiport as to his powers to prohibit motor vehicles with trailer vehicles in tow using the streets of large cities during the hours when traffic is very dense, and asked whether, for the safety of foot passengers, some compulsory sign, visible by day and night, aught not be carried on the towing vehicle. Colonel Ashley made the following statement :—" So far as I am aware, neither the Secretary of State for Home Affairs nor I have any general powers to prohibit the use of the streets of large cities by motor vehicles with trailer vehicles in tow during the hours when trune is very dense, provided that the streets are otherwise suitable. Certain powers of regulation in matters of a similar nature are, however, conferred upon me in respect of the London Traffic area by the London Traffic Act, 1924. As regards the latter part of the question, the Departmental Committee on the Regulation of Road Vehicles in their second interim report came to the conclusion that the avoidance of accidents could best be promoted by a regulation providing that the distance separating the towing from the towed vehicle should not exceed ten feet between their nearest points. In connection with the Bill for the better regulation of road vehicles, which I hope to introduce, the question of conferring powers on the Minister of Transport to deal with this and other similar matters will receive very careful consideration."
Dangerous Road Surfaces.
COLONEL GAULT called attention to the dangerous surfaces to be found on many parts of our main and secondary country roads, and suggested that the Minister of Transport should recommend to county
councils the use of a uniform and safe road surface which would be suitable for horses and beasts as well as motor-driven vehicles.
Colonel Ashley said he could see no possibility of any one particular material being singled-out as being exclusively suitable for all main and secondary roads, seeing how wide were the variations in local conditions, local resources and local traffic. He added that very extensive experiments were now being undertaken under the statutory powers conferred on him last year.
Sutton By-pass Road.
T"method of construction of the Sutton by-pass road has attracted the attention of several mem hers. Captain Garro-Jones desired to know whether a road "constructed of diagonally laid strips of concrete, each of which is of a convex surface," was a satisfactory form of construction. Colonel Ashley said he was aware of the form of construction adopted for the Sutton by-pass road, but he was not prepared to formulate conclusions until the road had been subjected to a longer test under traffic. Capt. Brass extended an invitation to the Minister to accompany him on the road so that he might see that the minimum speed which was comfortable was 50 miles an hour. Colonel Ashley, however, declined, on the ground of possible experiences with the police.
Dazzle in London Streets.
AREQUEST has been made by Colonel Day that instructions be given to,the Metropolitan Police to secure a uniform practice in regard to dimming or
turning out headlights in the suburbs. mentioned that numerous accidents had recently. happened through the difference of opinion of drivers on this question. Captain Hacking, Under-Secretary for Home Affairs, stated that the police had no power to enforce a uniform practice, even if it were desirable to require it in every case. Colonel Day referred to the recent remarks of a learned judge on the subject and asked whether legislation would be introduced to compel the dimming of headlights in London, Captain Hacking said his attention had been called to the observations of the judge, but he could not promise any legislation at present. Captain Brass asked if it were possible to issue regulations forbidding the use of headlights in welllighted streets in the Metropolis, but Captain Hacking said he did not think the Home Office possessed that power at present. On another occasion Colonel Ashley intimated that he was considering the question of seeking additional powers to deal with lightinrin the Road Vehicles Bill.
Beacon Lights in Great West Road.
riOMMENTS on the efficiency of the beacon lights
the Great West Road have come to the notice of the Minister of Transport, who has referred the matter to the Middlesex County Council, who are responsible for the road in question. Colonel Day suggested the reinforcement of the beacons by green lights lower down.
Rail Motorcars.
COLONEL; ASHLEY states that, where a railway 1—/company is not legally debarred from using petrol engines, and he is satisfied that proper precautions are taken and safety appliances adopted, no difficulties are placed in the way of the use of rail motorcars, but each case must be considered on its merits. Standing Inside Buses.
(-IN being asked to authorize an extension of the IL/numbers allowed to stand inside omnibuses in London during the rush hours in the winter season, the Home Secretary regretted that he did not see his way to reopen the question.
Approaches to London Docks.
1, question whether any mouey can be made available from the Road Fund towards the cast of the construction of the new Victoria Dock Road is at present under consideration. This statement was made by the Minister of Transport in answer to Mr. E. Grenfell, who declared that the roads and approaches to the docks of London were amongst the most congested in the United Kingdom and totally inadequate for their purpose.
Rear Lights on Bicycles.
THE old question of rear lights or reflectors for bicycles cropped up again the other day, when Mr. Trevelyan Thomson made a somewhat trite contribution to the controversy by suggesting that experiments should be made to ascertain the difficulties of keeping a rear light burning when travelling on a windy night or when traversing bumpy roads. 'Colonel Ashley informed Mr. Trevelyan Thomson that he might rest assured that if any regulations were made relating to the lighting of vehicles, the necessary steps would be taken to ensure that such regulations were technically practicable.
Lords Discuss Smoke Emission.
elOMPLAINT against the emission of smoke from steam lorries and tractors was again heard latit Wednesday, when the House of Lords listened to the Earl of Denbigh insisting upon regulations which would require the use of smokeless fuel. He regarded the clouds of smoke as a danger to both motorists and pedestrians, and mentioned that he himself had had one car smashed in consequence, whilst lie had had several narrow escapes. Viscount Peel, replying for the Government,considered that the law as to
emission of smoke from vehicles was clumsy but not inadequate, and it would be strengthened by the Smoke Abatement Act of this session. The law, however, required improvement with regard to the emission of sparks, and this matter would he dealt with by the Ministry of Transport in the forthcoming Road Vehicles Bill. The nuisance complained of had been largely due to the use of inferior fuel during the coal stoppage. The Earl of Denbigh regarded the answer of the Government as most unsatisfactory, and Lord Newton expressed a hope that the coal strike would not be used as a convenient excuse for years to come.
Accidents in Durham.
IN the Durham County Police district during last year the accidents caused by mechanically propelled vehicles numbered 91 fatal and 1,491 non-fatal. The details were :—Conveyances licensed to carry passengers, 60 fatal and 573 non-fatal; commercial vehicles, 10 fatal and 237 non-fatal; private cars, etc., 21 fatal and 681 non-fatal.
Report on Cross-river Traffic.
THE Minister of Transport, on being asked whether he would say what steps would be taken to give effect to the recommendations of the Royal Commission on cross-river traffic in London, and whether he would be prepared to receive a deputation representative of the localities concerned, said the report of the Royal Commission raised issues of the greatest importance, and the Government were considering very carefully the recommendations contained in the report.
A Case of Damages.
MR. WILLIAM THOR-NE_ having called attention to the ease of a woman at Birmingham being awarded £3,000 damages and £149 special damages or injuries caused through being run down by a Post Office motor van, the Postmaster-General stated that ounsel's opinion was being taken as to the advisaility of entering an appeal in this case on behalf of he defendant, who is a Post Office servant.
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