HC Deb 06 April 1955 vol 539 cc1146-7
31. Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will inquire into the causes of the increased numbers of killed and injured on zebra crossings.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

I have asked the Road Research laboratory to investigate and report on the effectiveness of zebra crossings.

Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

When the results of these investigations are discovered, will the right hon. Gentleman make them public, because, in the last quarter of 1954, 34 people were killed and 292 injured, an all-time high record?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

It is because of the importance of the matter—although I do not draw quite the inference which the hon. and gallant Gentleman does from these figures—that I have asked the Road Research Laboratory to investigate. It will in any event be necessary to take note of its recommendations if they are specific ones, and in that way they will become public.

Mr. Page

May I ask my right hon. Friend whether he has visited the map room at Scotland Yard recently and seen the flags indicating accidents which have occurred through vehicles overtaking on approaching pedestrian crossings—and how significant and frightening these figures are—and will he promote legislation to make that an offence?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

I think that the existing law is sufficient, or will be sufficient if the House adopts the Road Traffic Bill, to deal with bad driving in this sort of case, and my hon. Friend will be aware of the reference to this matter in the Highway Code.

Mr. Fernyhough

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that many motorists show a complete disregard for the line beyond which they are not supposed to park? [HON. MEMBERS: "No."] I will take any hon. Member opposite, any day, to cities that I know, where there is such a complete disregard. Will the Minister ask the police to have a word with these motorists, so that other motorists approaching these crossings may have an unobstructed view of them?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

Questions of enforcement, and about police action, are matters for my right hon and gallant Friend the Home Secretary.