AT THE HEART OF THE ROAD TRANSPORT INDUSTRY.

Call our Sales Team on 0208 912 2120

London Police Using Radar Speed Check

24th January 1958
Page 38
Page 38, 24th January 1958 — London Police Using Radar Speed Check
Close
Noticed an error?
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.

Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

'THE introduction by the Metropolitan I Police of a radar Speedmeter, on Monday was preceded by a demonstration of the instrument on Chelsea Embankment last week. The electromatic radar equipment was placed at the kerb-side and inclined towards oncoming traffic. It was apparent that the dial on the equipment was capable of registering the speed of single cars or lorries, but did not differentiate between groups of vehicles.

P.-C. J. Ley, who will be operating the equipment at accident black spots in London and where drivers are known to speed, said that action would not be pressed where any doubt existed. A double check was guaranteed by an independent reading taken by another constable at a distance from the first point.

Supt. E. Walker, of the research and planning branch of New Scotland Yard, stated that only one machine, of American manufacture, would be used at first.

The R.A.C. arc critical on grounds of possible variations between instruments and the difficulty of differentiating between vehicles.

The set was used at Wandsworth, Wimbledon and other sites on Monday, when many drivers were warned they were exceeding the speed limit. There was no attempt to conceal the sets, and where more than two vehicles were in the radar beam, the meter readings were ignored. It is understood prosecutions may begin next week.

Since six Speedmeters were introduced on August 1 last year in Lancashire, the Chief Constable, Col. T. E. St. Johnston. has reported a decrease of accidents. There were 540 fewer accidents in the last five months of 1957 than in the corresponding period in 1955. Police report fewer people exceeding the speed limit and the number of prosecutions for speeding, detected by means other than radar, has fallen.

MR. HANLON CONVINCED BY "DIRTY" RECORDS

ADV1SING an applicant to produce records of work with future applica• lions, the Northern Licensing Authority. Mr. J. A. T. Hanlon, remarked last week: "I don't mind if they are dirty. In fact. the dirtier they are, the more I tend to believe them—far more than if they arc written in copperplate."

He granted an A licence for three vehicles to Miss M. L. Stamper, Culgaith, Penrith, in place of three special-A vehicles. Mr. T. H. Campbell Wardlaw, for Miss Stamper, said the vehicles had been more than fully employed and replacements were urgently needed. They ran from north-west England to Glasgow. Aberdeen and Dundee, carrying mainly foodstuffs, detergents and jute.

Miss Stamper assured Mr. F. J McHugh, for British Railways, that th( new vehicles would have about the samc carrying capacity as the old ones.


comments powered by Disqus