§ 37. Sir H. BRITTAINasked the Minister of Transport whether, seeing that no form of medical or driving test 214 or knowledge of the road is required for those to whom driving licences are granted, he will consider the suggestion that a leaflet, containing the principal rules and regulations, details of signalling, and general etiquette of the road, be printed and read by each applicant for a driving licence before that licence is handed to him?
§ Colonel ASHLEYI am in sympathy with the object my hon. Friend desires to achieve in so far as details of signalling and general etiquette of the road are concerned, but I prefer the methods of attaining it recommended by the Departmental Committee on the Taxation and Regulation of Road Vehicles, in their Second Interim Report, paragraphs 167 and 168. I am sending him a copy of these paragraphs. As regards furnishing information to motor drivers on the principal rules and regulations relating to mechanically - propelled vehicles, I think this course might be open to objection, as if the information were complete it would be voluminous, and, if incomplete, it might be misleading.
§ Sir H. BRITTAINIn view of the ignorance of many people who acquire licences to-day, does not the right hon. Gentleman consider that some suggestion of this kind would limit the number of accidents on the road, even if the suggestion were limited to signalling alone?
§ Colonel ASHLEYThe whole matter will be taken into consideration when I am able to bring in the Road Vehicles Bill, which was mentioned in the Gracious Speech from the Throne.
§ Major COHENDoes the hon. Member think that it is possible to make people on the roads ladies and gentlemen simply by regulations of this sort?