Road Safety Experiment, Slough

Oral Answers to Questions — Transport – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 10 April 1957.

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Photo of Mr Fenner Brockway Mr Fenner Brockway , Eton and Slough 12:00, 10 April 1957

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will now report on the results of the road safety experiments in Slough for which his Department has been responsible.

Photo of Mr Harold Watkinson Mr Harold Watkinson , Woking

The Slough experiment formally ended on 31st March. I can add very little at this stage to the information which I gave on 13th February in reply to a Question by the hon. Member. I am hoping to receive a full report in the autumn.

The experiment has provided much valuable experience with both orthodox and new road safety measures, and the information forthcoming will undoubtedly be of great value in helping to determine future policy on accident prevention. I am much indebted to all concerned, and particularly to the Mayor of Slough, to the council of that borough and its officers, and also to the people of Slough for their invaluable co-operation in this important venture.

Photo of Mr Fenner Brockway Mr Fenner Brockway , Eton and Slough

May I express my appreciation of the recognition by the right hon. Gentleman of the officers and the people of Slough for their co-operation? Is it not the case that this experiment, while showing some reduction in fatal accidents, has shown an increase in lesser accidents, and is it not clear that the real solution of this problem is to provide not a number of devices but more road space for motor traffic?

Photo of Mr Harold Watkinson Mr Harold Watkinson , Woking

I think that it would not be fair to the very great efforts that have been made in Slough if I did not say that the actual fatal and serious accidents showed an 11 per cent. decrease at a time when fatal and serious accidents in the country as a whole showed 9 per cent. increase, so in respect of fatal and serious accidents Slough has done extremely well. Some of my experts say, with regard to minor accidents, that Slough people were so careful to report them all that perhaps they reported more than was the case in other places.