MOTOR TRAFFIC

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 43, 20 February 1930, Page 9

MOTOR TRAFFIC

NEW BILL IN BRITAIN

W0 ARBITRARY SPEED LIMIT

MINISTER'S REVIEW

United Fr<ss Association—By Electric Telegraph— DopyrlEht. LONDON, 18th February- ■ Mr. Herbert Morrison, Minister of Transport, in moving the second readof the Traffic Bill, described the road regulations as out of date. The existing speed. limit was universally ignored. An arbitrary limit for motorcars in all circumstances was unreasonable and indefensible, and its enforcement was not supported by public opinion. Whilo it could not .bo. assumed that accidents would diminish, the Minister was of opinion that the majority of motorists were considerate to other road users, but in the oase of the minority the law must bo stiffened up and the police empowered to tako tho fullest' steps to secure _ its observance. Ho thought the Ministry had worked out a practical scheme of compulsory insuraneo giving the least inconvenience to insurance 'companies. The Right Hon. W. W. Ashley (C.) declared that he was almost appalled by 'the- penalties imposable on motorists transgressing the law,. A .motorist would be liable to a find of £20 for a first offence and £50 or three months' gaol for a second offence if he forgot to renew his driver's licence or drove the wrong way in a .one-way street. These might bo revised. Tho second reading was carried on tho voices.