42. Captain CROOKSHANKasked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been called to the recent prosecution at Marylebone of two motorists for leaving their cars at a parking place at King Street, W., with the doors locked and the windows closed; whether he is aware that to have the doors locked is the normal precaution for a motorist to take to prevent theft, especially as parking-place attendants do not accept any responsibility in case of loss; and what action, if any, he proposes to take to amend the Regulation under which this prosecution took place?
§ The MINISTER of TRANSPORT (Colonel Ashley)My attention has been drawn to this case. I am not inclined to amend the Regulation, as it might prove necessary in certain circumstances that cars should be capable of being moved from their positions on a parking place.
§ Mr. CRAWFURDWould not the difficulty which arises when a car is locked immediately in front of another car be avoided if the Government adopted the obvious and rational method of allowing cars to be parked in a line?
§ Colonel ASHLEYThe rational method mentioned by the hon. Member would very often mean that the highway would be unduly obstructed.
§ Sir HARRY BRITTAINIs it suggested that every time a car is parked the doors should be left unlocked and the windows open?
§ Colonel ASHLEYCertainly, it has to be, because if it is not done, in many cases no car can get out of the parking line at all. They are so close that, unless a car which is left unattended can be moved, others cannot get out.
Captain CROOKSHANKWhen was this regulation passed? Was there no opportunity given to this House to discuss it?
§ Colonel ASHLEYThe Traffic Advisory Committee go into these matters and give advice on them.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs it not a fact that most modern cars can 1494 be locked by locking the switch, without having to lock the doors at all?
§ Colonel ASHLEYThe Traffic Advisory Committee have gone into these matters and know as well as does the hon. and gallant Gentleman what can be done.
§ Mr. DAYWill the right hon. and gallant Gentleman see that instructions are given to the messengers so that drivers may be warned of this regulation?
§ Sir H. BRITTAINWould my right hon. and gallant Friend agree that in most of these parking places there is an official attendant, and will he make a regulation that those who wish to keep what they have in their cars should leave the key with the attendant after locking the doors?
§ Colonel ASHLEYNo, because the attendant is not officially responsible, and, if he had charge of the key, that would mean that the attendant would be responsible, and the local authority would have to be responsible for any thefts from the cars.
§ Commander OLIVER LOCKER-LAMPSONAre these regulations about locking actually printed?
§ Colonel ASHLEYI could not say that.
§ Sir H. BRITTAINCan my right hon. and gallant Friend give the name of any other nation on earth that does not allow cars to be locked in parking places?
§ Mr. DAYWill the right hon. and gallant Gentleman consider the point that I put, namely, that attendants or messengers should inform motor drivers of this regulation before they park their cars?
§ Colonel ASHLEYYes, I will consider it.