§ 33. Mr. CHIOZZA MONEYasked the Home Secretary if his attention has been 532 directed to the common use by motorists of horns and hooters producing unnecessary noise; if he is aware that in many places these instruments deprive people of sleep until the small hours of the morning; and if he will take steps to compel the use of a standard horn and to compel those who motor in towns after midnight to travel slowly and thus to render the use of horns almost unnecessary after that hour?
§ The PRESIDENT of the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Herbert Samuel)My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. The suggestion would require legislation. A Bill to enable unnecessary noise from motor horns and hooters to be stopped at night, introduced by the hon. and gallant Member for Kincardineshire, has passed Second Reading and is now awaiting consideration by a Standing Committee.
§ 34. Mr. CHIOZZA MONEYasked the Home Secretary if he is aware that nearly every day someone is killed in this country in a motor accident; and if, in view of the number of lives which are at stake in the matter, he will at once propose to the House legislation for the protection of the public?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELI shall be happy to consider any suggestions which my hon. Friend or others may make to me for legislation on the subject.
§ 35. Mr. CHIOZZA MONEYasked the Home Secretary if his attention has been directed to the fact that at Kingston on 24th June George Vyvyan Deakin was convicted of failing to stop his motor car at Esher after knocking down and injuring another motorist, and that the maximum penalty imposed amounted to only £10; if he has noticed that on 15th May an unknown motorist knocked down, killed, and abandoned a pedestrian at Paisley, and that on 29th June a taxi-cab driver knocked down, seriously injured, and abandoned a woman at Lewisham; if he is aware of the growing public feeling as to motorists who abuse the public roads; and if he will propose to Parliament legislation raising considerably the penalties for such abuses, imposing sentences of hard labour for grave offences, and permanently depriving serious offenders of licences?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. McKenna)My attention has been called to the three cases mentioned. As regards the second, 533 I am informed that a motorist was charged with culpable homicide in connection with it, the jury returning a verdict of not proven. The third will be the subject of judicial investigation, but I may say that of the two drivers said to be concerned, the taxi-driver stopped, while the other drove away. I can assure my hon. Friend that the question of increasing the penalty on motorists who fail to stop after an accident will be sympathetically considered when legislation to amend the Motor Car Act is undertaken.