Transport Under Pressure
Page 17
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THE extraordinary value and ubiquity of mechani cal road transport are displayed in full measure at such times as Christmas, when every type of vehicle and every available driver are pressed into service.
In these enlightened days it would be well nigh impossible to visualize the congestion, and, in fact, the deadlock, which would inevitably occur in every branch of trade and industry if road transport ceased to function. Whatever the railways may do, say or claim, there are remarkably few instances where articles are not, at some stage of their existence,_carried by road What would be the condition of our big produce markets if the fluidity afforded by fast motor vehicles, could not be requisitioned? Admittedly, the roads are not yet of sufficient capacity to prevent congestion, which anyone who has, during the past few days, visited a market such as Smithfield can fully appreciate. In future, such markets must be planned on better lines. The main trouble is that the entrances and exits are too constricted ; consequently, the surging mass of vehicles within their precincts wastes hours of time and much fuel, both waiting to load and leaving after the completion of this operation. The losses thus incurred must, during busy periods, run into many thousands of pounds. It is for this reason that a few concerns still believe in thefl employment of horsed transport, but whilst this may incur less loss while idling, the speed of the motor vehicle amply compensates for it immediately it can reach more open terrain. The horse is necessarily greatly restricted in its maximum speed, and thus not only takes a long time for delivery, but impedes every other faster means for transport on the road.
This week we devote our centre pages to a group of illustrations which depict a few of the many spheres of activity in which the commercial motor vehicle plays its part. That it plays it well cannot be disputed ; in fact, upon it depends practically every item of Christmas fare and jollity. The brewer, baker, candlestick maker and innumerable other members of the trade and industry of this country find the commercial vehicle an invaluable adjunct.
That it is essential is shown by the concession which is made in respect of drivers' hours. This is comparatively small, but it constitutes a tacit admission ,..Df the importance.which is placed Upon road transport.