§ Mr. Adleyasked the Secretary of State for Transport if, in the light of persistent accidents, offences and public concern, he will immediately reduce to 50 m.p.h. the maximum permitted speed of passenger service vehicles and all coaches pending a review of current speed limits for such vehicles: and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. ChalkerAs I said in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. McCrindle) on 27 June, I believe that a maximum of 70 mph can be a safe speed in normal conditions for coaches on motorways. However, I shall be consulting shortly on a number of amendments to other vehicle speed limits, and as part of this I will consider any evidence that that limit may be too high. In the meantime I am very much concerned at continuing reports of coaches exceeding the limit, and I am meeting urgently with representatives of the police and the industry to discuss what measures can be taken to ensure full observance.—[Vol. 44, c.36.]