§ 21. Mr. LOOKERasked the Minister of Transport whether, without waiting for the proposed Road Traffic Bill to become law, he will, in view of the rapidly-increasing danger to both passengers and the public arising from chars-a-bancs weighing upwards of six tons unloaded proceeding, with a full complement of passengers, at speeds of upwards of 40 and 45 miles an hour, bring in a short Bill to deal with this practice?
§ Colonel ASHLEYThe driving of motor coaches at the speeds referred to by my hon. Friend is an offence under the existing law, the enforcement of which is a matter for the police.
§ Mr. LOOKERHas my right hon. and gallant Friend's attention been drawn to the recent case in which a char-a-banc loaded with passengers crashed into some level crossing gates, resulting in the death of two passengers; and that the Judge held that the evidence given by the passengers showed the vehicle was travelling at an excessive speed; and does not my right hon. and gallant Friend think it desirable in the public interest to make Regulations or provisions regarding this great danger at an earlier date than will otherwise be the case?
§ Colonel ASHLEYI have said in my answer that the law already deals with such excessive speed, and that it is for the police to take action as they think fit to control this excessive speed. Any further questions on this point should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary.
§ Mr. LOOKERIs it not possible to draw the attention of the county police authorities to this very dangerous practice, with a view to putting a stop to it?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat does not arise out of the question on the Paper.
§ Sir J. NALLDoes not the fact that the Ministry of Transport have no control over this question of speed rather 1081 indicate that it is high time that the question of the public safety on the roads was placed under one Department only?
§ Colonel ASHLEYNot at all. It is perfectly clear that, if a certain law is passed by this House at the instigation of the Ministry of Transport, it falls to the police to carry it out, as in the case of any other law.
§ Mr. THURTLEWill the right hon. and gallant Gentleman, in considering these Regulations, bear in mind the fact that chars-a-bancs are used by the proletariat, and not by the plutocracy?