§ 57. Mr. BROMLEYasked the Minister of Transport how many drivers of commercial road vehicles were prosecuted for excessive speed and/or dangerous driving during 1926 and during January and February, l927; and how many were involved in fatal accidents during the same periods?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir William Joynson-Hicks)I have been asked to reply. The returns of prosecutions and, of accidents furnished to my Department for statistical purposes do not distinguish those concerning drivers of commercial road vehicles, so that I am not in a position to answer the question.
§ 58. Mr. BROMLEYasked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that drivers of commercial road vehicles are often ordered to cover distances from point to point which necessitate an average speed of 35 miles per hour and over; and seeing that this entails dangerous speeds for heavily loaded vehicles, will he endeavour to deal with the question in such a manner as to prevent such speeds being ordered?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI have been asked to reply. So far as the Metropolitan Police District is concerned I am informed that, generally speaking, the police are not aware that drivers of any vehicles are ordered to drive at a speed which would be in excess of the limits allowed by the law, but if such cases were brought to their notice, necessary action would be taken against the person or persons responsible for giving such orders. There are occasionally cases, when the owner is present, in which there is evidence that the owner had ordered the driver to commit a breach of the law. In such cases the owner is prosecuted for aiding and abetting. If the hon. Member has any cases of an average speed of 35 miles an hour and if he will let me know, I will consider them very carefully.
§ Mr. BROMLEYThe right hon. Gentleman has only replied in regard to the Metropolitan area, but my question deals with the country at large. Has he no further information?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSNo, Sir; I have not, and really there is nobody who has the information in regard to the rural districts or the non-Metropolitan areas unless the hon. Member were to apply to the Watch Committees. It is only the Metropolitan Police who are directly under the control of the Secretary of State, the others are under Watch Committees or Standing Joint Committees.