§ 42. Lieut.-Colonel Bromley-Davenportasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the report of the Road Research Laboratory that 95 per cent. of heavy goods vehicles exceed 20 miles per hour and about 65.70 per cent. exceed 25 miles per hour, he is satisfied that the police are unable, under present circumstances, to find an effective way of enforcing the 20 miles per hour speed limit for goods vehicles over three tons; and what action he proposes to take.
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeIn 1953, the police in England and Wales took proceedings in 20,293 cases of exceeding the speed limit by goods vehicles of all classes and issued nearly 2,000 written warnings. It is the responsibility of the police to enforce the law as best they can with the resources available to them, and I have no authority to give them any directions on the matter.
§ Lieut.-Colonel Bromley-DavenportIn spite of all these prosecutions, what is the use in having a law that cannot really be enforced? Is my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that chief constables and the police feel very strongly that if they were allowed to take the ridiculous police signs off the tops of their cars, and could go about in plain clothes, they could not only enforce the law—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."]—they could not only enforce the law, but could also decrease the awful accidents on the roads and save lives?
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeI can only refer again to the fact that it is the responsibility of the police to enforce the law. I have no authority to direct them how to do it.