§ LORD MARLEYasked His Majesty's Government whether any steps are being taken to impose and enforce a general maximum speed limit for all Service, commercial and private motor vehicles, in the interests of the prevention of accidents and economy in machinery, rubber and man-power.
§ THE MINISTER OF WAR TRANSPORT (LORD LEATHERS)His Majesty's Government have already considered most carefully the question of imposing a general speed limit on motor vehicles. The police endeavour to enforce the existing speed limits so far as they can under war-time conditions but it would be quite impracticable for them to enforce a general speed limit at the present time. The Government have come to the conclusion that the disadvantages likely to arise from a general speed limit which could not be enforced properly would considerably outweigh its advantages. Commercial goods vehicles and public service vehicles are already subject to speed limits which, in no case, exceed 30 m.p.h. These speed limits are not applicable to Service vehicles or vehicles under Service control. Such vehicles, however, are subject to special limits and their drivers have strict instructions to adhere to those limits, save in exceptional circumstances where they are duly authorized to exceed them. All vehicles, whether civilian or Service, are subject to a general speed limit of 30 m.p.h. in built- 533WA up areas, which is reduced to 20 m.p.h. during the hours of darkness. There is no speed limit on private cars used outside built-up areas, but the public have been asked to refrain from driving cars at high speeds in the interests of road safety and in order to save fuel and rubber. In 534WA structions have been issued by Government Departments (including the Service Departments) that a maximum speed limit of 4o m.p.h. should be observed by cars, except for reasons of overriding urgency.
House adjourned.