§ 31. Mr. McEnteeasked the Home Secretary the number of police taken off traffic duty in the Metropolitan area since the introduction of automatic signals?
§ Sir J. SimonThe total number of constables taken off traffic duty in the Metropolitan Police District since the inception of automatic traffic signals is 485.
§ Captain Harold BalfourCan the right hon. Gentleman say how many of them are now engaged in watching to see that motorists obey the traffic signals?
§ 42. Sir G. Mitchesonasked the Minister of Transport whether he will consider appointing an independent committee to inquire into the working of the regulations governing pedestrian crossings and the use of electric traffic lights, with a view to making more efficient these devices for increasing safety on the roads?
§ The Minister of Transport (Mr. Hore-Belisha)These devices, and the regulations governing them, are always under observation by the responsible highway authorities, by chief constables and by officers of my Department. It is noteworthy that 1936 showed a reduction in pedestrian casualties for the second year in succession. This reduction followed upon the installation of pedestrian crossings, the fullest benefits of which are yet to be achieved by observance rather than by regulation.