§ 37. Mr. Shepherdasked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the extent to which motor vehicles, and public service vehicles in particular, pass traffic lights al red in the London area; and what steps are being taken to bring to an end this practice.
§ Mr. HayWe are aware that drivers engage in this dangerous practice in London, as well as elsewhere. But neither we nor the Commissioner of Metropolitan Police have any evidence that the practice is increasing, or that public service vehicles offend more than other vehicles.
The measures which, as my right hon. Friend announced last week, are to be introduced on 29th May, including provision for increased fines and disqualification for disobeying traffic signals, will, I hope, have a salutary effect.
§ Mr. ShepherdDoes not my hon. Friend realise that first he will have to catch the offenders? What is being done by the police, in view of their relief from other traffic duties, to keep a more careful watch on this point? Is there the possibility of some mechanical device which will register the offence mentioned in the Question?
§ Mr. HayCatching offenders is not actually one of the duties of my right hon. Friend. He makes the regulations, but it is for the police to carry them out. I think that my hon. Friend should put that question to my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary.
§ Mr. StraussHas the Parliamentary Secretary any evidence to support the suggestion in the Question that public service vehicles are greater offenders in 430 this respect than any other form of vehicle?
§ Mr. HayPerhaps the right hon. Gentleman was not listening with his usual care to what I said in the Answer. If I may repeat it, I said that we have no evidence that public service vehicles offend more than other vehicles.