An H.G.V. Driver Puts' His Spoke In
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Impressions Gained by C. E. Lett During Night Journeys Between London and the West County. with, 23 Tons Gross Weight I AM -highly honoured at being offered this oeportnnity of I speaking to such a distinguished company, and putting before you some of my views as a long-distance heavyvehicle driver.
Taken as a whole it is my view, that the makers of commercial vehicles, despite the many difficulties which they, obviously, have to face in war time, are giving us vehicles of which. we can be justly proud.
There is, of course, some difficulty in obtaining spare parts, which is causing delay to vital vehicles. ,,Could there not be better co-operation in this matter?
Regarding tyres; there does not seem to be as mush
7 difficulty in obtaining them as might be expected, but, in this connection, I do feel that the organization -set up throughout the country, in the form of servicing depots, is not working satisfactorily, and we have to face considerable delays on the road because we cannot get the tyres attended to.
Reverting to vehicles, however, could not something be done to improve the comfort of the driver? The average British vehicle is not so good in this respect as the .A.merican types which I see on the road every day.
The commercial drivek who is earning his living at the wheel does well over five times the peace-time mileage of the average car driver. This means that he is considerably' longer at the wheel and often under, much more severe conditions.
I should like to saY a few words on safety driving: The provision of white lines is an excellent scheme, but is not being properly attended to; in some parts of the country many of the lines are now too faint to be of any real value.
There are, however, in a number of pla,ces small reflectors fitted in the kerbs and these have proved to be of great value.. It would be a big improvement if they could also be fitted aE other. dangerous points, such as curves and " S " bends.
Traffic lights are mostly unseeable;during the day, particularly in sunlight, and yet-are blinding at night, the " green" being the chief culprit. The trouble is more noted in outer London than anywhere else; in fact London seems to be definitelY, behindhand in making traffic improvements,
Finally, I would like to pay a tribute to some of the roadside cafe proprietors for the Way is which they have improved feeding conditions on the road. Some time ago a lorry driver's staple diet Was regarded as " two of dripping and .ff la.rge tea without sugar," „but now they seem to have made even the proverbial sausage look appetizing.
I can assure you that we drivers are putting our backs into the job, but we must look to you gentlemen for the complete co-operation that is needed to make this vital ,job of war transport go with a-awing.