HC Deb 29 May 1935 vol 302 cc1116-7
24. Mr. WEST

asked the Minister of Transport how many persons have been killed in collision with the London Trans port Board's trolley omnibuses during the last two years, and how many were killed by the tramcars displaced by them in the two years preceding conversion

Mr. HORE-BELISHA

I will send the hon. Gentleman a copy of a letter I have received from the London Passenger Transport Board giving full information. The number of accidents involving personal injury per 100,000 car miles run is 6.09 in the case of trolley vehicles and 9.3 in the case of tramcars. These figures, which show that tramcars are involved in 50 per cent. more accidents involving personal injury than trolley vehicles, represent, in the opinion of the board, the best method of arriving at the relative accident liability of the two forms of transport.

32. Mr. EDWARD STRAUSS

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has any information tending to indicate whether pedestrian crossing-places have contributed towards a reduction of street accidents in London?

Mr. HORE-BELISHA

During the months of March and April of this year the number of pedestrians killed and injured in the Metropolitan Police District was 17.6 per cent. less than the number in the corresponding months of last year before pedestrian crossings were established. A special observation has been made on four, main roads leading from Central London to the boundary of the County of London. These roads were the scene of particularly heavy pedestrian casualties but they have now been adequately equipped with pedestrian crossings and the observation disclosed that there has been a reduction in the number of pedestrian skilled and injured on theme amounting to no less than 44 percent. in the above-mentioned periods. While of course there are many factors involved, the information in my Department indicates that pedestrian crossings have contributed substantially towards the reduction of accidents in London.

Sir PERCY HARRIS

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether there have been any accidents, and, if so, how many at the actual crossing-places themselves?

Mr. HORE-BELISHA

I think that they are an infinitesimal proportion of the whole of the accidents, and naturally I have not the figures here.