§ 15. Mr. Russellasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what steps he proposes to take to prevent long streams of traffic in streets like Oxford Street and Euston Road being brought to a standstill across intersecting streets and blocking traffic in them.
§ Mr. MolsonThis effect is unavoidable in certain traffic conditions. The police can and do help, but considerate drivers will not proceed across an intersection if they can see that they will not be able to clear it.
§ Mr. RussellCan my hon. Friend say what is to happen to drivers who do not do what he suggests? Is it not a case for making a law about this as was suggested by my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Northwich (Mr. J. Foster) before the Easter Recess, and will my hon. Friend look into it to see if it cannot be included in the present Road Traffic Bill?
§ Mr. MolsonI have gone into this matter and have written to each of the hon. Members who took part in the Adjournment debate on this subject. We entirely agree, of course, that it is a serious traffic problem, but it is not at all clear that legislation would be the best way of dealing with it. Such legislation would be extremely difficult to enforce, and it might well be that it would slow down traffic more than is the case at the present time.