TRANSPORT LAW AMENDMENTS

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25548, 16 July 1948, Page 6

TRANSPORT LAW AMENDMENTS

PARLIAMENT

BILL INTRODUCED IN HOUSE OBLIGATION ON DRIVERS OF CARS „(P.A.) WELLINGTON, July 15. An obligation on a motor-driver involved in an accident causing personal injury to report the accident in person to a police constable or a police station as soon as reasonably practicable, within 24 hours at most, unless physically incapacitated, is imposed by a clause in the Transport Law Amendment Bill, which was introduced in the House of Representatives to-day. The Court has held that as the law stands a report to the police by any person is sufficient to remove this responsibility from the driver. The Minister of Transport (Mr F. Hackett) said the bill embodied recommendations made by the Transport Co-ordination Council, the Road Safety Council, the police, and others. He proposed after the second reading to have the bill sent to a special committee. The bill makes it clear that a person disqualified from driving may not drive, even when beside a licensed driver. At present any person may drive without a licence if learning to drive and accompanied by a qualified driver alongside him. The penalty for driving while disqualified is increased from £5O to a maximum of £lOO. The Court is also empowered for such an offence to increase the period of suspension by another 12 months. Provision is made for the automatic revocation of a motor driver’s licence when the holder is the subject of a reception order as a mental defective. Trams and Harbour Ferries The bill widens the power to bring trams by regulation within the scope of the Traffic Regulations, as they apply to pedestrian crossings. The licensing of harbour ferry services is proyided for and existing services are entitled to be licensed as of right. Provision is made for the establishment of a Transport Co-ordi-nation Council of 14 members, representing Government departments concerned with transport and employers and employees of ■ transport services, whose functions will be to act in an advisory capacity to the Minister of Transport on matters relating to all forms of transport. Reports and recommendations of the council are to be laid before Parliament. The bill establishes a Transport Charges Committee of three persons to be appointed by the Minister, comprising a chairman, one member representing the owners of transport ser-, vices, and one the users of transport services. All applications relating to passenger or freight charges for motor transport or harbour ferries will be considered in the first place by this committee. The decision of the committee if satisfactory to all parties concerned will be put into effect, but if not any dissatisfied party will have the right of appeal to a Transport Charges Appeal Authority, a judge, who will then hold a public meeting and issue a new decision against which there is no further right of appeal. The appeal authority may also issue general directions to be followed by a charges committee.

The powers of the authority and committee replace those of the licensing authorities as far as charges are concerned.

Inspection of Trucks It is provided that privately-owned trucks used for the cartage of the owners’ own goods are to be brought under the same system of periodical inspection as to road worthiness and mechanical fitness as applies to trucks operated by licensed carriers, but this provision does not include trucks owned by the Government, local authorities, and farmers.

Licensing authorities are given power to prescribe conditions for improvements in taxi services, including power to require taxi services to be rostered and to require taxi operators to become members of taxi organisa-

tions. It also enables licensing authorities to require operators of bus ser-

vices to provide shelters for passengers. Provision is made for the issue of regulations limiting the common law liability of road transport services and harbour ferries for the loss of or damage to goods. The Director of Stabilisation and the Director of Rehabilitation are given rights of appeal against decisions of transport licensing authorities. The Minister said the draft of the bill had been in' the hands of operators and users for six months.