Oral Answers to Questions — Road Accidents (Preventive Measures).

– in the House of Commons at on 11 March 1941.

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Photo of Sir Adam Maitland Sir Adam Maitland , Faversham

asked the Minister of Transport what further steps he proposes to take with a view to reducing the number of road accidents?

Photo of Mr Frederick Montague Mr Frederick Montague , Islington West

In consultation with my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and Minister of Home Security, I am proceeding as far as circumstances allow, on the following lines: (1) Influence on public opinion; (2) Safeguards in the black-out; (3) Enforcement of the law. In recent months there has been a serious deterioration in the conduct of all types of road users, and the publicity campaigns being conducted by the Ministry of Information and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents aim at bringing the public to a sense of the care which they must exercise if accidents on the roads are to be reduced.

The measures possible to safeguard the public against the effects of carelessness are very limited. It is a strategic necessity that the black-out should be preserved, but subject to the overriding necessity of avoiding visibility from the air, a reasonable driving light is now permitted. Aids to movement for all road users in the shape of white lines, white markings and lights on islands and other obstructions, as well as a reduced form of street lighting are being provided. Enforcement presents a difficult problem to the police, who have many additional responsibilities. It is not possible to continue on any extensive scale the special police patrols which promised much success before the war, but police supervision is not by any means being suspended, and in certain directions I hope it may be possible to intensify it during the coming months.

Photo of Mr Irving Albery Mr Irving Albery , Gravesend

I could not hear all the reply, but did I understand the hon. Member to say that persons using the roads in a black-out would have to wear something white?

Photo of Mr Frederick Montague Mr Frederick Montague , Islington West

No, the only reference to white was the marking of roads.

Photo of Mr Irving Albery Mr Irving Albery , Gravesend

Will the hon. Gentleman bear in mind that it is impossible to see people who are in the road in a black-out unless they do wear something white?

Photo of Mr Frederick Montague Mr Frederick Montague , Islington West

In a broadcast which I myself made people were strongly advised to wear something white, but I think the hon. Member will see the difficulty there would be in enforcing any regulation that they must wear white.

Photo of Mr Irving Albery Mr Irving Albery , Gravesend

I cannot see any difficulty, and I ask the hon. Gentleman to give some further attention to this point in order to see whether there is any real difficulty.

Miss Rathbone:

Will the hon. Gentleman bear in mind the desirability of issuing advice that persons should wear a white band at the bottom of the skirt or the bottom of the trouser leg, as drivers look to the ground and often cannot see a band on the arm? Many drivers have said that it is much easier to avoid women because they wear light stockings.

Photo of Mr Frederick Montague Mr Frederick Montague , Islington West

I am rather afraid that that question justifies my statement about the difficulty of enforcing any regulation of this kind. I should not like to have the job.

Photo of Mr Robert Gibson Mr Robert Gibson , Greenock

Would the Minister recommend pedestrians to wear white gasmask containers?