HC Deb 12 December 1949 vol 470 cc221-2W
78. Mr. Braddock

asked the Minister of Transport how many persons have been killed, and how many injured, in road accidents involving, respectively, tramcars, trolley omnibuses, motor omnibuses and motor coaches operated by the London Transport Executive for the 12 months ended 31st December. 1948; and the comparative average figures of killed and injured per million miles operated for each class of vehicle.

Mr. Barnes

In view of my general responsibilities in matters of road safety, I have obtained figures from the British Transport Commission. The number of persons injured, fatally or otherwise, as a result of accidents arising from collisions involving London Transport vehicles during the 12 months ended 31st December, 1948, together with the comparative figures per million miles operated for each class of vehicle were as follow:

Fatally injured Per Million Miles Injured other than fatally Per Million Miles
Central buses 69 . 285 1,986 8. 218
Country buses 4 . 085 204 4. 364
Coaches 7 . 317 158 7. 163
Trams 16 . 470 665 19. 544
Trolley buses 30 . 378 853 10. 754
TOTAL 126 . 297 3,866 9. 123
"Collisions" includes collisions with pedesrians as well as all kinds of vehicles.

79. Mr. W. R. Williams

asked the Minister of Transport if he intends to institute a special inquiry into the serious increase in the number of accidents involving public service vehicles.

Mr. Barnes

The latest available figures do not indicate any serious increase in such accidents and I do not think that a general inquiry would be useful. When a particular accident presents special features calling for an inquiry, I arrange for it.

80. Mr. Gallacher

asked the Minister of Transport if he will introduce legislation for more severe penalties in relation to fatal motoring accidents through careless or reckless driving.

Mr. Barnes

No. I have no evidence that the existing law does not provide an adequate deterrent, and I would further point out that a driver who causes a fatal accident can be charged with manslaughter if this is justified by the degree of negligence.