Three Centuries of Transport Legislation.

The Speaker at March Rotary Club on the 11th October was Club Secretary,
Alan Burdass, having spent his life in Government Sector posts dealing with
Road Traffic Legislation.

He explained, in detail, how the 'controls' we now recognise as the norm,
came, albeit slowly, onto the statute book. The first significant rule was a
decree by the Corporation of London in 1722, that all traffic, be it wagons,
livestock or pedestrians, should cross London Bridge on the left, which in
passage of time, lead to the way we drive today.

Parliament Square saw the introduction of the first Traffic Lights in 1868,
enabling M.P.'s to cross the road in safety. By 1903 the A.A. was formed
with the object of warning the then rising motoring class of Speed Traps !!.

His talk conclude by bringing us up to date on the introduction of Parking
Meters in 1958 and Motorways in 1980.
At Question Time, Speed Cameras were the predominate issue.