HC Deb 30 July 1896 vol 43 cc1109-12

(1.) During the period between one hour after sunset and one hour before sunrise, the person in charge of a light locomotive shall carry attached thereto a lamp so constructed and placed as to exhibit a light in the direction in which the locomotive is proceeding, and so lighted and kept lighted as to afford adequate means of signalling the approach or position of the locomotive. (2) If any person contravenes this section he shall be liable on summary conviction to a hue not exceeding two pounds.

The hon. Member remarked that he thought it was of great importance in the public interests that the motor cars should be compelled to carry lights, and to carry them in such a manner, that the cars would be visible after dark. The protection of public life was absolutely involved in the matter, because the motion of the cars would be comparatively noiseless. It was laid down by an Act in 1888 that bicycles should carry lights after dark, and the precaution had been found to be in the highest degree necessary. ["Hear, hear!"] In those circumstances, he contended that a similar regulation should be applied to motor vehicles of all descriptions in the public interest. He presumed that the right hon. Gentleman in charge of the Bill was in favour of the object of the new clause, because, when in Committee on the Measure, the right hon. Gentleman had an Amendment down to precisely the same effect. When he moved his Amendment the right hon. Gentleman appealed to him to withdraw it, saying he would later on move an Amendment much to the same effect. Later on the right hon. Gentleman did move an Amendment but very quickly withdrew it. It would be said that regulations as to lights would be made by the local authorities. Clause "provided that the Local Government Board" may "make regulations with respect to the use of light locomotives. It would be said the Board "may" make regulations as to lights. They "may" or they "may" not. He mentioned that it should be laid down by Statute that motor carriages should carry lights, and it was with that view he moved the Clause which stood in his name.

Clause read a First time.

CAPTAIN BETHELL (York, E. R. Holderness)

said it would be very simple to say that every motor car should carry a light be would prefer a red light so as to distinguish it from any other vehicle.

MR. T. W. RUSSELL (Tyrone, S.)

said the Government never contemplated anything so foolish that these cars should go without lights at night, but what happened before the Standing Committee was this. The hon. Member hail an Amendment to the effect that the cars should carry lights. Another Amendment was down in the name of the President of the Local Government Board, and upon that Amendment the discussion was taken. The Committee considered that this and a great many other matters might be best regulated by rules made by the Local Government Board. His right hon. Friend thereupon withdrew the Amendment. The undertaking given would be carried out.

MR. WARNER

said the Local Government Board might have given an undertaking to make a regulation that these ears should carry lights, but there was no reason why it should not be laid down by law that every motor ear should carry a light.

MR. HUMPHREYS-OWEN (Montgomery)

said it was obvious it would be much better to have the matter settled by law than to leave it to the Local Government Board. The County Councils and other local authorities would have to approach the Local Government Board and they did not exactly know what view the Board would take. If they had an Act of Parliament behind them matters would be made much easier.

SIR HENRY FOWLER (Wolverhampton)

thought the Local Government Board was undermanned and overworked, and could not conceive any reason why Parliament should saddle it with additional work in this matter. The last Conservative Government provided, in the Local Government Act of 1888, that bicycles should carry lights, and he trusted the present Government would accept this clause, and not put the House to the trouble of dividing.

MR. CHAPLIN

said that undoubtedly motor cars ought to carry lights, and the Local Government Board had given an undertaking that they would make regulations accordingly. It was quite true the Local Government Board was undermanned, but in spite of that he thought they were able to make regulations in such a matter as this. There were a number of other questions which would have to be dealt with and which, he thought, had better be the subject of regulations. He saw no necessity to make an exception in this particular case. As to the character of the light and the precise conditions under which it should be shown, that was a question which required consideration, but if the House wished to have it inserted that a light should be carried he should have no objection to that. [Cheers.]

SIR W. HART DYKE (Kent, Dartford)

said what they wanted, from a practical point of view, was protection. They did not want to go to the Local Government Board for protection. ["Hear, hear!"] It was a simple thing to say plainly by statute that those vehicles should on all occasions carry a light, ["Hear, hear!"]

MR. J. LLOYD WHARTON (York, W. R., Ripon)

was sure the whole country-would welcome a provision in favour of safety.

* THE SOLICITOR GENERAL (Sir ROBERT FINLAY,) Inverness Burghs

said there was no objection to accepting the words of the clause down to and including the words "exhibit a light," with the addition, "in accordance with regulations to be made by the Local Government Board."

Clause, as amended, read a Second time and added to the Bill.

*MR. LUTTRELL moved the following now clause, which was read a First time:—