HC Deb 05 May 1952 vol 500 c21
36. Mr. Driberg

asked the Minister of Transport what steps are taken, in the interests of road safety, especially in rural areas, to ensure that drivers of American military vehicles are acquainted with the British traffic code.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport (Mr. Gurney Braithwaite)

I understand that arrangements made by the United States authorities in Great Britain provide for instruction in the Highway Code to be given to United States Service drivers. It is the policy of these authorities to employ qualified British civilian drivers so far as is practicable.

Mr. Driberg

Is the hon. Gentleman in touch, or is his Department in touch, with the American authorities on this matter, since there have been quite a few accidents in narrow country lanes in the neighbourhood of these U.S. bases?

Mr. Braithwaite

Yes, Sir. There are classes of instruction given to United States personnel when they are acting as drivers. As I have informed the hon. Gentleman, the majority are British civilians.

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