HC Deb 20 November 1911 vol 31 cc807-8
Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKE

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is compulsory for every person making application to drive a motor vehicle to pass an examination proving that he is competent to drive with safety to the public before a licence is granted him; and, if not, whether he will consider the advisability of so amending the regulation regarding the issuing of these licences as to make it compulsory that every applicant shall be required to pass such an examination?

The PRESIDENT of the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Burns)

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. Licences to drive motor cars are not in this country issued subject to the passing of an examination in competence. For the reasons set out by the Royal Commission on Motor Cars in paragraphs 94 to 96 of their Report, it has not hitherto been considered necessary or desirable to amend the law in this respect. As the Royal Commission point out, accidents with motor cars are rarely traceable to incompetence to drive, while they are not infrequently associated with undue confidence or occasional recklessness on the part of skilled drivers.

Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKE

Has the right hon. Gentleman received any complaints from the city of London.

Mr. BURNS

I have heard of none. It is the too clever driver who runs into other people.

Mr. WATT

Is there a test for the private motor driver?

Mr. BURNS

There is no test for the private driver, but there is a test for the taxi-cab and motor omnibus driver, which is a very severe one.