In 1931, Wembley recorded its first road fatality when a motor lorry struck a horse-drawn cart on Wembley High Road. The case shook the borough and marked the start of modern traffic concerns in the area.

Quick Facts

Date: 1931

Location: Wembley High Road

Vehicles: Lorry & horse-drawn cart

Casualties: 1 fatality

Cause: Mixed traffic era

Impact: Early calls for modern traffic control

What Happened

On a busy day in 1931, a motor lorry collided with a horse-drawn cart along Wembley High Road. The cart driver suffered serious injuries and later died, becoming the borough’s first officially recorded motor fatality. Local newspapers of the time, including the Wembley Observer, reported widespread shock at how quickly the dangers of motor vehicles were overtaking traditional traffic.

It was a tragic example of the changing transport mix in inter-war London, when horses, trams, bicycles, and the rising number of motor cars all shared the same narrow roadways with very little regulation.

Hazards & Why It Was Dangerous

- No separation between horse-drawn vehicles and faster motor lorries.

- Lack of traffic lights or controlled crossings on Wembley High Road.

- Limited driver training and inconsistent enforcement at the time.

Safety Takeaway

Wembley’s first road fatality shows how new transport technologies demand updated rules and safer street design.

Sources

Wembley Observer, local news report (1931)

London Borough archives – early 20th century traffic records