§ 37. Sir COURTENAY WARNERasked the Secretary of State for War, whether he has any official Reports showing that there has been an increase of accidents in the streets of London on account of the darkening of the streets because of Zeppelin raids; and, if so, whether he can make any statement on the subject?
§ Mr FORSTERAlthough there has been an increase in the aggregate number of accidents occurring in the streets of London, this increase has certainly not been wholly due to the lighting restrictions. My hon Friend will be aware that 328 a large proportion of the skilled drivers who used to be employed in London have gone to the Army, and that their places have been taken by less skilful persons. I have noticed a statement in the Press that in 1915, 867 people in London alone met their deaths as a direct result of the darkness of the streets. I am glad to be able to inform my hon. Friend that the actual number of fatal accidents which occurred in 1915 during the dark hours was only 358. From this number those which normally occurred during the dark hours in ordinary times must be deducted and a further deduction must be made on account of the employment of less skilled drivers. My hon. Friend will thus see that the number of accidents during the dark hours which can be assigned directly to the darkness of the streets has been very much exaggerated.
§ Mr. PRINGLEIs my hon. Friend not aware that a large number of these accidents are due to the absence of any eyesight test for the driver?
§ Mr. FORSTERNo, Sir.