boy NEEDS MORE LIFE
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By E. JAMES MILLEN
1,40W useful is the Lorry Driver of the Year competition? Is it worth the time and money expended on it? Is its popularity on the wane? If so, why? These questions are not easy to answer. But, with the Final being held on Sunday, they perhaps should be considered.
The competition unquestionably appeals to the drivers who take part in it. At least once in the year drivers taking part in one of the rounds have a day which is very much "theirs ", when they get together and have an opportunity of displaying their skills to spectators interested enough to attend— and, of course, to each other. This would seem to be a good thing, reminding drivers, as it must, of the skills of their trade. It should remind their employers, too, of these skills—and of the value of top-class drivers.
As to time and money, this is a question for the companies to decide. Firms entering drivers presumably think the outlay worth while, and those not entering don't. Apparently the main reason some companies don't enter is because they find it inconvenient to release vehicles for a whole day when they might otherwise be gainfully employed. Which is not in the least surprising in view of the importance of making money—but is still rather a pity. The answer to this particular quandary seems to be to find greater incentives for firms to enter their drivers.
Is It Still Popular?
Is the competition as popular as it was? On the face of it, it is—as it is usual for there to be at least one new round each year. But I have heard the view expressed in more than one quarter that certain rounds appeared to have lost something this year. The "something" is not easy to define, but it is probably a certain liveliness and novelty that seemed to be there some years ago. but is rather less evident now. I think that " novelty " is the clue to the problem. Test procedure has been static for too long, and everything –results included— is much too predictable. To my mind the whole concept of the competition should be reviewed—and radical changes made in time for next year. What changes? I would suggest raising entry fees, which would allow for bigger and better prizes to be presented. And there should. I feel, be strenuous efforts made to increase local interest—and greatly improved facilities for spectators. And certainly some new tests and new rules.
A great drawback in most rounds at present is that the competition drags on for much too long. Six o'clock finishes are not uncommon. Rounds starting at 9 a.m. should, in my view, be over by 4 p.m. at the very latest. Vehicles should be kept moving to provide continuity of interest—with no long breaks in the programme—as often happens now with nothing at all taking place on any of the three manceuvrability tests.
Attention to Marshals
One way of speeding up things would be to ensure that fully efficient marshals were on duty and in sufficient numbers. Much time would be saved, too, if drivers making certain major errors were immediately eliminated—for example, striking markers and barriers (remember these in daily working would be solid obstacles or other vehicles!). Furthermore, there is much to be said for imposing a time limit on each test—say, one minute. This would mean that in a round where 100 drivers were competing the manceuvrability tests should occupy a total of not more than five hours.
Another idea to further reduce the field, in what I consider to be a perfectly proper way, is to eliminate drivers incurring more than 20 per cent of possible penalty marks on each of the Highway Code and Road Route tests. Surely any driver entered in a competition of this kind should he expected to be well-nigh perfect on the Highway Code and on driving along any section of road he is required to cover—bearing in mind how fundamental these things are to his trade and to his livelihood. Perhaps the most difficult problem in attempting to revitalize this competition is the finding of suitable new tests. The "snooker ball " test which has been used in the finals at Coventry seems rather too awkward and contrived. And though one new test and one variation on a longestablished one are to he tried in this year's final at Bramcote on September 12, I do not find myself particularly enthusiastic about either of these. Not sour grapes—but to my mind drivers will find the new " hull's-eye" test too complicated —especially regarding the scoring. But at least, this element of novelty is a very positive step in the right direction.
Maintenance Tests?
In view of the attention being given these days to maintenance of goods vehicles (who hasn't heard of a GV9?) an oral test on basic maintenance has much to commend it. This test could very easily be put into effect—and here, too, I think the elimination principle should apply. One test that might very well appeal to spectators would be a simulated " hill start ". This might be a little difficult to set up--but could well be worth the trouble.
One test I saw conducted at a Perkins lorry driver competition appeals to me as being well worth copying. This involved a call at a simulated depot to pick up instruction, followed by a delivery run over a course absolutely " littered " with hazards. This is not only a test of driving ability and knowledge of road signs, but an intelligence test to boot—which, I submit, is very desirable.
These, then, are but a few possibilities. There are many more which must have occurred to drivers, spectators and officials at lorry driver competitions up and down the country.
My submission is that those responsible for the organization of the LIDOY competition should take a long. hard and critical—look at it. It might he then that a "kiss of life" could he given to a patient which, in the view of some. seems to be ailing a little.