§ 41. Mr. Awberyasked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that provisional driving licences can be renewed indefinitely without the need for an official driving test; and if he will take steps to limit such renewal.
§ 70. Mr. Peter Freemanasked the Minister of Transport how many times an applicant can renew his learner's licence; and for how long he can thus drive a motor car or motor cycle without a full driver's licence and without passing a driving test.
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MOTOR CYCLE ACCIDENTS — January to May, 1949 January to May, 1950 January to May, 1951 Number of motor-cycles involved in accidents resulting in death or personal injury. 9,500 (approximate) 11,989 15,048 Number of motor-cyclists or motor-cycle passengers— (a) killed (a) 264 (a) 350 (a) 370 (b) injured (b) 8,172 (b) 10,445 (b) 12,930 Number of motor-cycles licensed as at 31st May 576,100 672,600 736,800 Note No statistics are available of the classes of road users, other than motor-cyclists, killed or injured in accidents involving motor cycles.
§ Mr. BarnesThe number of provisional driving licences which can be taken out successively for the purpose of learning to drive before taking a driving test is not specifically limited; nor do the holders of such licences have to take a test after a certain time. These licences are valid for three months only, learner drivers must display "L" plates on their vehicles and, in most cases, must be accompanied by a supervisor. These restrictions normally result in drivers wishing to take the test as soon as they feel capable of passing, and I do not think that an amendment of the law would be justified.
§ 79. Mr. Llewellynasked the Minister of Transport whether he will take steps to find out the proportion of men and women, respectively, among holders of licences to drive.
§ Mr. BarnesNo. No valid conclusions could be drawn from such figures.