HC Deb 31 October 1912 vol 43 cc582-4W
Mr. KELLAWAY

asked the Home Secretary if his Department was represented at any of the inquests held on the 120 persons killed by motor omnibuses this year?

Mr. McKENNA

The police attended all these inquests. The procedure in cases of serious or fatal accident laid down by standing Regulation is that the local police are required to obtain the assistance of an officer from the Public Carriage Branch possessed of the technical knowledge required to enable him to ascertain the cause of the accident and to form an opinion as to whether under the circumstances anyone could be held responsible.

Mr. KELLAWAY

asked the Home Secretary if he is aware that London motor omnibus drivers, plying on routes where there is competition with electric trams, make a practice of using the same stopping places as the trams and of driving into groups of people getting on or off the trams; and whether, as such a practice is dangerous and causes much alarm to women and children, he will instruct the police to put a stop to it?

Mr. McKENNA

It is an unfortunate necessity, when tram lines are laid in a thoroughfare, that overtaking vehicles are forced to pass on the near side of the tram instead of on the off. It is a fact that in many places trams and omnibuses have the same stopping points, because so many of these stopping points coincide with busy cross-traffic centres, but it is a disputed point whether there is greater danger to persons alighting if the omnibus stops opposite the tram or runs by without stopping. The subject of tram and omnibus stopping places is receiving special consideration. The police would certainly take proceedings against any driver acting in the manner referred to by my hon. Friend.

Mr. KELLAWAY

asked the Home Secretary whether he will make inquiries as to whether the pay of London motor omnibus drivers to some extent depends on the number of trips completed or miles run, instead of their being paid a fixed wage; and, if he should find this to be the practice, whether he will, in the interests of public safety, use his powers as the licensing authority to put a stop to it?

Mr. McKENNA

As I stated on 30th July, in reply to a question by my hon. Friend, the men receive a fixed daily wage, but I am informed that they are required to do a given number of trips, and in case of breakdown a small deduction is made from their pay. Such breakdowns are, I understand, now rare.

Mr. KELLAWAY

asked the Home Secretary if his attention has been called to the prosecution at Stratford Police Court on Saturday of a number of motor omnibus drivers for exceeding the speed limit, and to the suggestion of the magistrates that a speedometer should be fitted to such vehicles; and whether he will make it a condition of licensing motor omnibuses that they shall be supplied with a mechanical device which shall give audible warning as soon and as long as the speed limit is being exceeded?

Mr. McKENNA

As regards the first part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave yesterday to the hon. Member for South West Ham. The proposal indicated in the second part of the question was carefully considered in the time of my predecessor, but it was decided that its advantages were more than counter-balanced by its disadvantages.