Catalogue description Road Traffic and Safety Correspondence and Papers

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Details of MT 34
Reference: MT 34
Title: Road Traffic and Safety Correspondence and Papers
Description:

This series consists of selection of files and papers dealing with traffic and safety problems including the control of motor vehicles, the Highway Code, driving licences, third party insurance, penalties for driving offences, speed limits, street playgrounds and road signs and signals. The series includes bill papers on general traffic and London traffic legislation.

This series also contains some files from the RS series (otherwise in MT 92).
Date: 1879-1961
Related material:

Further records on transport in London are in

Division within MT
Held by: The National Archives, Kew
Legal status: Public Record(s)
Language: English
Physical description: 647 file(s)
Access conditions: Subject to 30 year closure unless otherwise stated
Immediate source of acquisition:

Department of Transport , from 1996-1997 , from 2000

Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions , from 1996-1997 , from 2000
Administrative / biographical background:

From 1919, the enormous growth of motor traffic made it essential for the social and industrial welfare of the country, for governments to take an increasing interest in the adequacy of our roads, and many developments in highway administration have taken place.

The Roads Act, 1920 provided for the registration and licensing of mechanically propelled vehicles. The London Traffic Act, 1924 and the London Passenger Transport Act, 1933 gave the Minister specially wide powers to control the movement of traffic in London. The Act of 1924 set up the London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee.

The Royal Commission on Transport issued in 1929 a report entitled "The Control of Traffic on Roads" which was adopted almost in its entirety and as a result the Road Traffic Act 1930 was enacted which among other provisions gave the Minister power to make Regulations about the construction and use of mechanically propelled vehicles and provided for the installation of traffic signs and signals by highway authorities subject to the approval of the Minister. The Act also provided for the Highway Code, driving licences, third party insurance, penalties, offences for dangerous driving and other driving offences. In addition, as amended by the Road and Rail Traffic Act 1933, the act empowered local authorities to make Orders, subject to confirmation by the Minister, restricting and regulating the use of vehicles on specified roads.

The Road Traffic Act, 1934 imposed the general speed limit of 30 m.p.h. in built-up areas and made driving tests compulsory. It also provided for pedestrian crossing schemes to be submitted to the Minister by local authorities.

Under the Trunk Roads Act 1936, as amended by the Trunk Roads Act 1946, the Minister became the Order-making authority in respect of trunk roads.

The Street Playgrounds Act 1938 empowered certain councils to make Orders, subject to confirmation of the Minister, prohibiting or restricting traffic in specified streets so that they may be used as playgrounds.

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