§ 18. Mr. C. Johnsonasked the Minister of Works if he will give the figures of road accidents in the Royal Parks for the first four months after the speed limit was increased to 30 miles-per-hour, with separate figures for injured and killed, and comparable figures for the same period for three previous years.
§ The Minister of Works (Lord John Hope)For those parks where the sped limit was raised to 30 m.p.h. on 4th August, 1960, the following are the figures required of accidents, injured and killed.
- 1957–50 accidents, 62 injured and none killed.
- 1958–62 accidents, 74 injured and 2 killed.
- 1959–69 accidents, 70 injured and 2 killed.
- 1960–69 accidents, 87 injured and 2 killed.
§ Mr. JohnsonCan the Minister, having studied the figures as a whole, say whether they show that the proportion of fatal accidents has increased since the speed limit was raised? Is he aware that there is increasing evidence that the new higher speed limit is being ignored, and that there have been convictions for driving in Richmond Park at speeds of up to 60 m.p.h.? What steps is the Minister taking to see that these new speed limits are rigorously enforced?
§ Lord John HopeI am taking the steps I told the House I would take when these matters were debated, and that is why there are now more convictions. The answer to the hon. Member's Question is that there have not been any more killed since these Regulations came in.