HC Deb 23 October 1912 vol 42 cc2206-8W
Sir HILDRED CARLILE

asked the Home Secretary whether he will state the views of the Metropolitan police authorities as to the causes, direct and contributory, of the accidents caused by motor omnibus traffic; and what percentage is due to excessive speed and to improper driving, respectively?

Mr. McKENNA

The Metropolitan Police authorities find it impossible to present a definite analysis of the causes of these accidents generally. But if the figures for the current year are examined, it appears that a large proportion of those killed by motor omnibuses in London were cyclists, and that another important factor is the scarcity or absence of refuges. The question of speed and of the quality of the driving must always be considered in such cases, but at the inquests on the persons killed the jury in all but three instances exonerated the driver from blame, implying an opinion that the speed had not been so excessive or the driving so bad as to call for prosecution or censure.

Mr. KELLAWAY

asked the Home Secretary if he will say how many children under ten years of age have been killed by motor omnibuses in London during the first nine months of this year?

Mr. McKENNA

The Commissioner of Police informs me that twenty-four children under the age of ten years were killed by motor omnibuses within the Metropolitan Police district during the first nine months of this year. The majority of these accidents occurred at places where there were no refuges, and this is one of the matters which are receiving my attention.

Mr. KELLAWAY

asked the Home Secretary whether he will state when he? hopes to be in a position to say what steps he intends to take to compel the London motor omnibus trust to reduce the number of fatal accidents caused by their vehicles?

Mr. McKENNA

For the present I can only repeat that the question of the possible steps to be taken to reduce the number of accidents caused by motor omnibuses is engaging my careful attention. The matter is one which presents very great difficulties.

Mr. KELLAWAY

asked the Home Secretary if he is aware that in many parts of the south-eastern district of London motor omnibuses are commonly driven at a speed of twenty miles an hour or more; that the police make no attempt to check these infringements of the law; and whether he will issue to the police and to the motor omnibus trust a notice reminding them that the legal speed limit for motor omnibuses is twelve miles per hour, and that it is the duty of the police to see that the law is carried out?

Mr. McKENNA

It is undoubtedly the fact that motor omnibuses, as well as other power-driven vehicles, at times exceed the speed limit. During the present year the Metropolitan Police have prosecuted the drivers of 528 motor omnibuses and 143 electric tramcars, besides many drivers of other motor vehicles. Notices of the nature indicated by my hon. Friend have been issued by the Commissioner of Police to the motor omnibus companies—the last in August of this year. The police have full instructions on the matter in the general orders of the force.

Mr. KELLAWAY

asked the Home Secretary if his Department was responsible for the statements in the Press on Saturday that, as a result of a conference between the motor omnibus compani[...] and the police, it was agreed that excessive speed was not a cause of the terrible death roll caused by motor omnibuses, and that the way to reduce the number of deaths was not to reduce the speed but to reduce the number of omnibuses; if this correctly represents the attitude of Scotland Yard on this question; if so, on what it is based; and whether he is aware that in 1907, when 1,205 omnibuses were licensed, the number of deaths was only 35, and that in the following year, when the number of omnibuses licensed was 72 less, the number of deaths increased to 62?

Mr. McKENNA

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. I have, indeed, been unable to trace any such statement in the Press as that referred to by my hon. Friend. As I have just stated, the Metropolitan Police find it impossible to express any general view as to the causes of these accidents. The figures quoted by my hon. Friend are correct.