§ Dr. SALTERasked the Home Secretary how many people have been killed and how many injured during 1932 while boarding or alighting from tramcars; and whether, in view of the demand from magistrates and coroners for the prohibition of motorists passing stationary tramcars when passengers are boarding or alighting, he will consider legislation enabling local authorities to make by-laws to put a stop to this practice?
Mr. STANLEYI have been asked to reply to this question. The report on the causes and circumstances of fatal road accidents recently issued by my Department shows that, during the first six months of 1933, 18 people were killed while boarding or alighting from stationary tramcars. I am not aware of any other official figures on the subject. In addition to the provisions of the law relating to careless and dangerous driving, the Highway Code instructs drivers, when overtaking tramcars, to watch carefully to see if passengers are attempting to board or alight and to go slowly or stop, as the circumstances require. Drivers of vehicles cannot be expected to be aware of local by-laws and Parliament has, during recent years, consistently refused to allow clauses designed to allow local authorities to make by-laws for this purpose.