§ Dr. PETERSasked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that complaints are being made that express coaches and commercial vehicles are frequently exceeding the statutory speed-limit, to the danger of pedestrians and motorists; and whether he will bring in an amending Bill to increase the penalties in such cases where convictions are recorded?
§ Mr. PYBUSThe penalties for driving a motor vehicle in excess of the speed allowed by law are for a first offence a fine not exceeding £20 and for a second or subsequent offence a fine not exceeding £50 or imprisonment, for a term not exceeding three months, and I see no reason for increasing these penalties. I may add that so far as public service vehicles are concerned section 72 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930, provides that the traffic commissioners shall not grant a road service licence in respect of any route if it appears to them, from the particulars as to journey times required to be furnished under that section, that the speed-limit provisions of the Act are likely to be contravened.