HC Deb 05 March 1912 vol 35 cc336-8W
Mr. KELLAWAY

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were killed or injured by motor omnibuses and by tramcars, respectively, in the Metropolitan area, during each of the past five years; and how many passengers were carried by motor omnibuses and by tramcars, respectively, during the same period?

Mr. McKENNA

The number of persons killed or injured during each of the past five years was as follows:—

Year. No. of persons killed. No. of persons injured. Total number of persons killed. Total number of persons injured.
By motor omnibuses. By tramcars. By motor omnibuses. By tramcars.
Mechanically propelled Horse drawn. Total. Mechanically propelled. Horse drawn. Total.
1907 … [...]5 22 3 25 1,108 2,119 212 2,331 60 3,439
1908 … 62 26 1 27 1,264 2,066 136 2,202 89 3,466
1909 … 52 26 3 29 1,087 2,177 119 2,296 81 3,383
1910 … 61 26 1 27 1,008 2,372 66 2,438 88 3,446
1911 … 95 27 1 28 1,690 2,459 50 2,509 123 4,199
Totals … 305 127 9 136 6,157 11,193 583 11,776 441 17,933

The only figures as to the number of passengers carried during the same period which are available are those in the last report of the London Traffic Branch of the Board of Trade, which do not include statistics for 1911, and do not distinguish between motor omnibuses and other omnibuses. The figures are as follows:—

Year. No. of passengers carried by
Tramway (approximate). Omnibus.
1907 … … 589,745,792 330,000,000*
1908 … … 636,009,090 340,000,000*
1909 … … 687,138,908 311,000,000*
1910 … … 763,797,856 377,207,555†
* Number of passengers estimated on the basis of receipts; the figures are believed to be underestimated.
† From a return obtained for the first time from the Companies of the actual number of passengers carried.

Mr. TOUCHE

asked the Home Secretary whether he has received a copy of a resolution passed at a conference of delegates appointed by the Metropolitan

borough councils to consider the question of motor omnibus traffic in London, calling attention, among other things, to the annoyance caused by the splashing of mud by these vehicles, especially in narrow thoroughfares, which disfigures and damages the personal attire of pedestrians and affects the value of house and shop property; has the Commissioner of Police no power to enforce regulations to mitigate the nuisance; and, if his powers are not sufficient, can he see his way to introduce legislation which will require the compulsory fitting of motor omnibuses with more efficient mudguards?

Mr. McKENNA

I have received a copy of the resolution. The question is one which has been repeatedly considered by the Commissioner of Police and by my predecessors; but the conclusion arrived at has been that no really effective mudguard for motor omnibuses has yet been invented. It would not, in these circumstances, be possible for the Commissioner to require the use of mudguards, nor would it be reasonable to propose legislation on the subject.