B us speedos I read with interest the "0 and A" Bureau. (CM March 21) reply
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to the query regarding whether it is legal for a bus to be operated on the road without a speedo meter. CM's reply quoted from the Construction and Use Regulations 1966, and stated that "your bus certainly required a working speedometer in order to comply with the Law". You neglected, however, to continue with the quotation from the Regulations, which reads: "It shall be a good defence to proceedings taken in respect of a contravention of this regulation to prove that: 1 The defect occurred in the course of the journey during which the contravention was detected: or 2 At the time when the contravention was detected steps had already been taken to have the defect remedied with all reasonable expedition."
I would suggest, therefore, that if the speedometer had been removed to have it repaired, it would seem to me that the driver or the operator would have a reasonable defence from prosecution if, in fact, the repairs were in the course of being undertaken. P. G. BLAND, General Manager and Engineer Ashton under Lyne Corporation Transport [Mr. Bland is right in drawing attention to this defence, but in the 0 and A mentioned the main point at issue was whether or not a bus legally required a working speedometer. The questioner had taken a specific example, and then gone on to draw a general inference from it. —Ed]