Passengers in Goods Vehicles
Page 35
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
0 . NE of the unhooked-for and certainly un• wanted effects of the Road Traffic Act, 1930, has been to exercise a particularly cruel restriction upon the use of goods vehicles for the occasional coney• ance of passengers in parties of more than seven ; as, for instance, in connection with sc.hool.treats, boyscout camps, and for the conveyance of local athletic teams between villages. We have received scores of letters in which this subject has been raised, some of which have been included . in the columns of Tire Commercial Motor.
On May 19th we published a leading. article in which we stated that it was difficult to understand why the Minister of Transport could not so arrange matters that, for occasional use, such as that indicated, vehicle owners could apply to the Traffic Commissioners for short-period licences to carry passengers, on the condition that the vehicles to be utilized in this manner were fit for such use, whilst the speed (hiring the time that passengers, were being conveyed could be restricted to the limit applying to the particular vehicles , when carrying good.
Members of all parties in the House of Commons have expressed their views as to the need • • for an amendment of . the . Act which Would oVerbOrnethe hardships inflicted.
The Minister of Trans port, in the face of this strong wave of public opinion, has decided to take this step,and, consequently, a short Amending Bill to repeal the particular section of the Act will be introduced.
It is not expected that the Bill will meet with any oppoSition, and there is little doubt that it will quickly. become law.
This will be very good .news to all those concerned, and it shows a satisfactory reasonableness on the part of the Minister of Transport. in fact, it leads one to believe that -the people of this country do actually have a measure of control over affairs which are of vital interest to them. As a nation we are too apt to look upon politicians As something in the nature of demi-gods and to believe that once they have settled. matters amongst themselves it is too late to protest with • any great pOssibility of success. This is, in-our opinion, -an entirely wrong attitude to adopt. Organized and.
determined efforts can oftL work wonders. That is why we continue to emphasize the .urgent need for co-operation amongst the various .road-transport interests, , so • that their -views may be made known at the MiniStry.
, A speaker at a recent Transport Congress said that we had askedfor a spoonful of legislation but had receIved a bucketful, • but it may be that we shall not be forced to swallow the whole -contents. '