HC Deb 05 April 1944 vol 398 cc1991-2
29. Mr. W. J. Brown

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport, whether, in view of the continued number of children killed or injured on the roads, he will arrange for the propaganda campaign of his department to be directed mainly to drivers instead of to children and parents.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport (Mr. Noel-Baker)

Much of the propaganda on road safety conducted by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents is directed to drivers of motor vehicles. I hope my hon. Friend will agree that the work done in schools and with parents is both of immediate, and of long term, value, and that it should, therefore, go on.

Mr. Granville

In view of the fact that the road casualties now exceed over four and a half times the military casualties, does not the hon. Member think that something extra should be done to try and stop this peril, with regard to drivers of Allied Forces vehicles?

Mr. Noel-Baker

I have no evidence to show that accidents due to Allied Forces drivers are higher than those due to other drivers, but if my hon. Friend will make concrete proposals for action, I shall be very glad to consider them.

Lieut.-Colonel Sir Thomas Moore

Does my hon. Friend receive full co-operation from Service Departments in restricting the excessive speeds at which Service vehicles still travel?

Mr. Noel-Baker

We are in constant touch with the Service Departments and I am bound to say that they have given us very good co-operation.