§ Mr. LOVAT-FRASERasked the Minister of Transport why he has not put into operation Section 1 of the Road Traffic Act, 1934; and when he proposes to do it?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAI would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave on Thursday last to questions on this subject.
§ Mr. MABANEasked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been drawn to the case recently before the West Riding Court in which evidence was produced by the police to the effect that the defendant had driven a heavy omnibus, almost full of passengers, between Alwoodly and Harewood, at a speed which was never less than 45 miles per hour, and at one time reached 62 miles per hour; and whether he proposes to take any steps to secure that cases of gross violation of the law as to speed by the drivers of heavy motor vehicles are subject to penalties appropriate to the danger to public safety attaching to such breaches of the law?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAThe maximum penalties for exceeding a speed limit are, in the case of a first offence, a fine not exceeding £20 and, in the case of a second or subsequent conviction, a fine not exceeding £50. On a third or subsequent conviction, the driver may be disqualified. A person who drives a motor vehicle at a speed which is dangerous to the public may be convicted of dangerous driving, and on indictment the maximum penalty for this offence is imprisonment for two1048W years. I understand that in the case referred to by my hon. Friend the driver was fined £5. Parliament recently had an opportunity of reviewing the law relating to these offences. The actual penalties imposed do not depend on my discretion, but the discretion of the Courts.