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LEGISLATION ON PLATING AND TESTING NEXT YEAR
Page 59
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FROM OUR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT
THE introduction of annual tests and I plating for heavy goods vehicles is on he Labour Government's legislative pro:Tontine for the coming year. They have moth been included in the category of ' road safety measures", which the Neen's Speech to Parliament on Tuesday old MIN to expect.
A further major measure will also be ntroduced to limit drinking and driving ly setting blood alcohol levels beyond which it would be an offence to drive. Plating of maximum loads is being 'resented as a necessary safety measure to nevent overloading and consequent langer to the public.
Transport occupied a complete paraTapia of the Queen's Speech, which also aid that the Governrhent would " bring orward proposals Tor the more effective .0-ordination of inland transport ".
Conservatives seized on this phrase. dr. Edward Heath, the Opposition eader, taunted the Prime Minister in the omnrions that the Transport Minister, ifter throwing over private enterprise ind competition as in Geddes, "has not teen able to integrate and now he is obbed off with co-ordination ".
This strange change in Labour's wordag is indeed significant. After renationaleation was rejected, they adopted ntegration. Now they have come to :o-ordination, which is the word the onservatives chose long ago.
Mr. Fraser will be the target of Severe Tory strictures on Monday, when Government transport and technology policy is debated. The Conservatives and some Labour MPs are equally worried about inactivity on the transport front.
One sector on which Mr. Fraser has been obliged to take quick action is the question of motorway pile-ups in fog. -He is firmly of the opinion that excessive speeds were to blame for the recent accidents, and he has been told by his official advisers that fog limits of 20 m.p.h. should be set for the motorways, together with an experimental general limit this winter of 70 m.p.h.
There are more consultations to come, but Mr. Fraser is expected to state his decisions for short-term remedies in the Commons very soon. He is also committed to a statement some time next month absmt the progress of Labour's elusive transport policy.
It is now officially admitted—even boasted—that Mr. Fraser has been actively encouraging the expansion of publicly owned road haulage since he was appointed last year. The effect of this, claims the Government. is that the firms controlled by the Transport Holding Company owned about 18,100 powered vehicles at the end of September, compared with 15,700 at the same time last year.
A series of studies which are coming to fruition include investigations of the impact of road and rail costs, a study of consignors' requirements and preferences, and the justification for restraining the use of cars in cities. There is also a study going on into the conditions affecting the performance and financial standing of London Transport.
The Conservatives are likely to force a vote on the Government's poor handling of transport and technology. Now that Labour's retreat from renationalization is complete, there are likely to be some severe challenges.
Decision Defferred
AT its meeting in London on Tuesday the national council of the Traders Road Transport Association decided to defer a decision on whether or not to implement the proposed maintenance inspection scheme, so that further market research could he organized. A final decision on this will now be taken at the national council meeting in February next year. In the meantime all members in the London area are to be approached directly in order to obtain a true indication of likely support_
On the Industrial Training Act proposals there was a divergence of views, but by a small majority it was decided to accept the Ministry of Labour's suggestion that sizeable maintenance departments for C-licensed fleets should be included under the Road Transport Training Board. This does not alter the TRTA's basic opposition to C-licensed transport itself being excluded.