§ Mr. R. Morganasked the Minister of Transport whether he can state the number of accidents and deaths, respectively, in which London omnibuses or trolley-buses were involved during each of the months August, September and October of this year?
§ Captain WallaceI am informed by the London Passenger Transport Board that the number of accidents in which their central omnibuses and trolley vehicles were involved during the months of August, September and October, 1939, and the number of persons who died as the result of such accidents were respectively as follow:
and in October, 16 and five respectively, occurred during black-out periods.
1039WAt the inquests on the 54 fatal accidents during September and October the verdict was "Accidental Death" in 53 cases and "Suicide" in one case. In 42 cases of the 53 in which the verdict was "Accidental Death" the Coroner specifically exonerated the drivers concerned from all blame; in only one case was there any criticism of the driver.
I would emphasise that the total numbers of accidents include quite trivial mishaps, such as passengers tearing their clothing on a nail and damage to a vehicle without personal injury.