§ 39. Sir CHARLES OMANasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the recent increase in cases of reckless driving on roads outside the Metropolitan area by those in charge of large commercial vehicles, he will instruct the mobile police or traffic patrols to pay special attention to these offenders?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Douglas Hacking)The attention of all Chief Constables has been drawn to the need for vigilant and firm action to enforce the law in cases of reckless driving, with particular reference to heavy vehicles subject to statutory speed limits, and my right hon. Friend has no reason to think that they have not given suitable instructions to their officers and particularly to traffic patrols to prevent and detect offences of that character.
§ Sir C. OMANWould the right hon. Gentleman be surprised to hear that this question was asked in consequence of several complaints from constituents, and from my own personal experiences in the Home Counties? There seemed to be no police patrols anywhere.
§ Mr. HACKINGYes, Sir, but may I tell my hon. Friend that there have been many more offences dealt with in the last 12 months than in the previous 12 months.
§ 41. Mr. DORANasked the Home Secretary the number of successful prosecutions that have been brought against motor-coach and lorry proprietors for defective rear-lights, faulty tyres, defective silencers and excessive speed, respectively?
§ Mr. HACKINGMy right hon. Friend regrets that the information is not separately available.