§ Mr. PHILIPSONasked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the fact that in an increasing number of cases serious road accidents occur through ignorance of or disregard for the rules of the road on the part of motorists, he would be prepared to consider the suggestion that motorists, before being granted a driving licence, should pass a short road test in order to show that they are both 1307W physically capable of being in control of a motor vehicle and also that they have sufficient experience of the rules of the road to enable them to drive without being a danger to other users of the road?
§ Colonel ASHLEYI have been asked to answer this question. Both the imposition of tests for drivers of mechanically-propelled vehicles and the enforcement of the rules of the road are among the many questions which have been thoroughly investigated by the Departmental Committee on the Taxation and Regulation of Road Vehicles, and I would refer the hon. Member to paragraphs 134–141 and 156–168 of their Second Interim Report, issued in March, 1922. For the reasons set out in that Report, I do not think that the imposition of a test for drivers would be a practicable means of giving effect to the hon. Member's wishes.