Tomorrows' world: chaos
Page 33
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
THE OIL CRISIS is the greatest challenge the Road Haulage Association would ever have to face. This was the warning from Raymond Baxter, compere of TV's Tomorrow's World, hitting out at the failure of truck builders to think about the problems that the future would bring.
In a scathing attack as lunch-time speaker on Tuesday, he accused manufacturers of not taking seriously the long-term oil crisis and the chaos it would bring. RHA members, he said, should pressure manufacturers into action.
By the most authoritative figures available oil production capacity would peak by 1990 and then decline. The plain truth is that the world will run out of oil."
This fall in oil production was only 15 years away and it was easy to predict what would happen then if one looked at the economic chaos that had resulted when artificial restrictions were applied.
"One wonders if you are satisfied that the manufacturing industry in general is up to this simple fact. It is worrying to say the least when leading figures tell you that they are not treating seriously the future oil prices." Mr Baxter said we were now only two generations of new vehicles away from the time when the basic fuel, oil, would decline in availability,. "This presents to your organisation by far the greatest challenge that you have had to face. It is a problem by which the questions of today fade into insignificance.
"One doubts if manufacturers will have the foresight to meet this problem unless you, the customers, spur them to it. Unless decisions are taken in the next few years it will be too late."
In an entertaining speech Mr Baxter also had some comments to make on the role of local authorities and suggested a novel solution to one of the problems. He said there was still a persistent section who earned their living by, constructing . road systems and also were dedicated to making it as difficult as possible for the driver.
There were still local authorities who calculatingly put cast-iron objects with fluted edges in the way of obvious lorry turning circles. Hauliers would probably know more of the driving planning than he.
To " overcome " urban traffic strangulation white lines were often painted on roads. Was this really the best that local authorities could do ? It was the total responsibility of the local authority to change such dangerous environments.
If they would not do so, Mr Baxter suggested legislation to change their minds. If, after a set date no steps were •taken to modify the environment, there should be an automatic prosecution for contributory negligence against the chairman of •the highways commit tee of the local authority. ,