Britain’s Road Traffic Bill

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19803, 19 May 1934, Page 10

Britain’s Road Traffic Bill

OVERHAUL OF PRESENT REGULATIONS

The chief motoring concern in Britain recently has been the advent of the Government's Road Traffic Bill. It has occupied many columns in the Press, but for the purposes of this column the “Manchester Guardian” has been taken as authority. The “Guardian” says that the reimposition of a speed limit for private motor-cars on virtually all roads which are not in the open country and the establishment and driving tests for new drivers are the two main features. It summarises the chief proposals in the Bill as follows:

Speed Limit.—A limit of 30 miles an hour is imposed on private cars in built-up areas—that is, on roads where a system of street lighting is maintained at the expense of the rates. A “street-lit” road may be deemed not a built-up area at the discretion of the local authority and the Minister. Revised lower limits will continue on heavy goods vehicles.

Tests for Drivers. —For new drivers driving tests are to be imposed, with a fee up to 10s. Drivers of heavy goods vehicles have to obtain an additional licence, with a suitable test for new applicants.

Disqualification.—A person convicted of careless driving will be liable to disqualification for one month and on second conviction three months. A Court may disqualify a convicted driver until he has passed a driving test.

Pedestrians. —Pedestrian crossingplaces may be proposed by local authorities, and there will be power to fine any pedestrian or driver breaking tire regulations.

Cyclists.—Pedal-cyclists will be required to have a white painted patch on the rear mudguard and efficient reflectors.

Horns and Hooters.—The regulation of the use of horns and similar devices is proposed. Part 2 of the Bill amends the law with regard to the insurance policies

for third-party risks, with a view to safeguarding further the position of parties injured in motor accidents. Part 4, in addition to simplifying procedure with regard to the licensing of passenger road services in certain details, provides that new drivers of heavy-goods vehicles shall be required to pass tests and to obtain special driving licences from the Traffic Commis-

It is remarked that the partial restoration of a speed limit after the repeal of the general 20-mile-an-hour limit by the Road Act of three years ago was not generally expected, but members of Parliament are so keenly conscious of public resentment on the subject of the increasing dangers of the roads that little opposition to the Bill is threatened. The fact that road accidents since the beginning of this year show a further increase on last year’s heavy toll will assist the Minister of Transport in getting his proposals through Parliament. Driving tests for new drivers will be subject to regulations which have not yet been prepared. The Minister of Transport intends to get in touch with the motor organisations before devising a scheme of tests. What the authorities desire to secure is that the new driver shall not only have some acquaintance with the mechanical part of driving, but that he shall also know something of road matters and the Highway Code.

No provision is made in the insurance clauses of the Bill to deal with the situation created by the legal maxim which prevents claims against a negligent driver who has been killed in the accident, but it is intended to remedy this defect hi the law before the Bill reaches its final Parliamentary stage. The Lord Chancellor intends to make proposals at an early date arising out of the report of the Law Revision Committee, and these will be of general application and will not be confined to road accidents.